diff --git a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
index 6b7ad6e5a..5667807c0 100644
--- a/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
+++ b/Shorewall-core/lib.cli
@@ -493,6 +493,8 @@ save_config() {
 
     [ -x $iptables_save ] || echo "$iptables-save does not exist or is not executable" >&2
 
+    [ -n "$SAVE_COUNTERS" ] && iptables_save="$iptables_save --counters"
+
     if product_is_started ; then
 	[ -d ${VARDIR} ] || mkdir -p ${VARDIR}
 
@@ -1624,6 +1626,11 @@ restore_command() {
 			    g_noroutes=Yes
 			    option=${option#n}
 			    ;;
+			p*)
+			    [ -n "$(which conntrack)" ] || fatal_error "The '-p' option requires the conntrack utility which does not appear to be installed on this system"
+			    g_purge=Yes
+			    option=${option%p}
+			    ;;
 			*)
 			    usage 1
 			    ;;
@@ -3576,9 +3583,10 @@ usage() # $1 = exit status
     echo "   logreject <address> ..."
     echo "   logwatch [<refresh interval>]"
     echo "   reject <address> ..."
+    echo "   recover [ -n ] [ -p ]"
     echo "   reset [ <chain> ... ]"
     echo "   restart [ -n ] [ -p ] [ -f ] [ <directory> ]"
-    echo "   restore [ -n ] [ <file name> ]"
+    echo "   restore [ -n ] [ -p ] [ <file name> ]"
     echo "   run <command> [ <parameter> ... ]"
     echo "   save [ <file name> ]"
     echo "   [ show | list | ls ] [ -b ] [ -x ] [ -t {filter|mangle|nat} ] [ {chain [<chain> [ <chain> ... ]"
@@ -3844,6 +3852,15 @@ shorewall_cli() {
 	    shift
 	    restart_command $@
 	    ;;
+	recover)
+	    get_config Yes Yes
+	    shift
+	    if [ -n "$SAVE_COUNTERS" -a -f ${VARDIR}/${RESTOREFILE} ]; then
+		restore_command $@
+	    else
+		start_command $@
+	    fi
+	    ;;
 	disable|enable)
 	    get_config Yes
 	    if product_is_started; then
diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
index d3ad1747e..2f435d828 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Chains.pm
@@ -6521,7 +6521,7 @@ sub set_chain_variables() {
 
 	emit( 'IPTABLES_RESTORE=${IPTABLES}-restore',
 	      '[ -x "$IPTABLES_RESTORE" ] || startup_error "$IPTABLES_RESTORE does not exist or is not executable"' );
-
+	emit( 'IPTABLES_RESTORE="$IPTABLES_RESTORE --counters"' ) if $config{SAVE_COUNTERS};
 	emit( 'g_tool=$IPTABLES' );
     } else {
 	if ( $config{IP6TABLES} ) {
@@ -6536,7 +6536,7 @@ sub set_chain_variables() {
 
 	emit( 'IP6TABLES_RESTORE=${IP6TABLES}-restore',
 	      '[ -x "$IP6TABLES_RESTORE" ] || startup_error "$IP6TABLES_RESTORE does not exist or is not executable"' );
-
+	emit( 'IP6TABLES_RESTORE="$IP6TABLES_RESTORE --counters"' ) if $config{SAVE_COUNTERS};
 	emit( 'g_tool=$IP6TABLES' );
     }
 
diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
index 6eb9a90bd..88a510561 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Config.pm
@@ -849,6 +849,7 @@ sub initialize( $;$$) {
 	  REJECT_ACTION => undef,
 	  INLINE_MATCHES => undef,
 	  BASIC_FILTERS => undef,
+	  SAVE_COUNTERS => undef,
 	  #
 	  # Packet Disposition
 	  #
@@ -5661,6 +5662,7 @@ sub get_configuration( $$$$$ ) {
     default_yes_no 'TRACK_RULES'                , '';
     default_yes_no 'INLINE_MATCHES'             , '';
     default_yes_no 'BASIC_FILTERS'              , '';
+    default_yes_no 'SAVE_COUNTERS'              , '';
 
     require_capability( 'BASIC_EMATCH', 'BASIC_FILTERS=Yes', 's' ) if $config{BASIC_FILTERS};
 
diff --git a/Shorewall/Samples/Universal/shorewall.conf b/Shorewall/Samples/Universal/shorewall.conf
index 80db37da5..2bd7cdd41 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Samples/Universal/shorewall.conf
+++ b/Shorewall/Samples/Universal/shorewall.conf
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ ROUTE_FILTER=No
 
 SAVE_ARPTABLES=No
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=Internal
diff --git a/Shorewall/Samples/one-interface/shorewall.conf b/Shorewall/Samples/one-interface/shorewall.conf
index 033a1323c..92452ef72 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Samples/one-interface/shorewall.conf
+++ b/Shorewall/Samples/one-interface/shorewall.conf
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ ROUTE_FILTER=No
 
 SAVE_ARPTABLES=No
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=Internal
diff --git a/Shorewall/Samples/three-interfaces/shorewall.conf b/Shorewall/Samples/three-interfaces/shorewall.conf
index b2877a3b2..a184fd443 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Samples/three-interfaces/shorewall.conf
+++ b/Shorewall/Samples/three-interfaces/shorewall.conf
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ ROUTE_FILTER=No
 
 SAVE_ARPTABLES=No
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=Internal
diff --git a/Shorewall/Samples/two-interfaces/shorewall.conf b/Shorewall/Samples/two-interfaces/shorewall.conf
index b28975409..b211c46a2 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Samples/two-interfaces/shorewall.conf
+++ b/Shorewall/Samples/two-interfaces/shorewall.conf
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ ROUTE_FILTER=No
 
 SAVE_ARPTABLES=No
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=Internal
diff --git a/Shorewall/configfiles/shorewall.conf b/Shorewall/configfiles/shorewall.conf
index ceae87b3b..c00b664ec 100644
--- a/Shorewall/configfiles/shorewall.conf
+++ b/Shorewall/configfiles/shorewall.conf
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ ROUTE_FILTER=No
 
 SAVE_ARPTABLES=No
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=Internal
diff --git a/Shorewall/lib.cli-std b/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
index 0226105d5..8c4769fb3 100644
--- a/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
+++ b/Shorewall/lib.cli-std
@@ -1669,12 +1669,13 @@ usage() # $1 = exit status
 	echo "   noiptrace <ip6tables match expression>"
     fi
 
+    echo "   recover [ -n ] [ -p ]"
     echo "   refresh [ -d ] [ -n ] [ -T ] [ -D <directory> ] [ <chain>... ]"
     echo "   reject <address> ..."
     echo "   reload [ -s ] [ -c ] [ -r <root user> ] [ -T ] [ -i ] [ <directory> ] <system>"
     echo "   reset [ <chain> ... ]"
     echo "   restart [ -n ] [ -p ] [-d] [ -f ] [ -c ] [ -T ] [ -i ] [ <directory> ]"
-    echo "   restore [ -n ] [ <file name> ]"
+    echo "   restore [ -n ] [ -p ] [ <file name> ]"
     echo "   run <command> [ <parameter> ... ]"
     echo "   safe-restart [ -t <timeout> ] [ <directory> ]"
     echo "   safe-start [ -t <timeout> ] [ <directory> ]"
diff --git a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.conf.xml b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.conf.xml
index 0a1325b31..3c3323217 100644
--- a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.conf.xml
+++ b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.conf.xml
@@ -2454,6 +2454,20 @@ INLINE          -       -       -       ; -j REJECT
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><emphasis role="bold">SAVE_COUNTERS=</emphasis>[<emphasis
+        role="bold">Yes</emphasis>|<emphasis role="bold">No</emphasis>]</term>
+
+        <listitem>
+          <para>Added in Shorewall 4.6.5.</para>
+
+          <para>When set to Yes, this option causes the <emphasis
+          role="bold">save</emphasis> and <emphasis
+          role="bold">restore</emphasis> commands to respectively save and
+          restore chain counters.</para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
+
       <varlistentry>
         <term><emphasis role="bold">SAVE_ARPTABLES=</emphasis>{<emphasis
         role="bold">Yes</emphasis>|<emphasis role="bold">No</emphasis>}</term>
diff --git a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
index 5377c6547..75784394c 100644
--- a/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
+++ b/Shorewall/manpages/shorewall.xml
@@ -357,6 +357,18 @@
       expression</replaceable></arg>
     </cmdsynopsis>
 
+    <cmdsynopsis>
+      <command>shorewall</command>
+
+      <arg
+      choice="opt"><option>trace</option>|<option>debug</option><arg><option>nolock</option></arg></arg>
+
+      <arg>-<replaceable>options</replaceable></arg>
+
+      <arg
+      choice="plain"><option>recover</option><arg><option>-n</option></arg><arg><option>-p</option></arg></arg>
+    </cmdsynopsis>
+
     <cmdsynopsis>
       <command>shorewall</command>
 
@@ -452,7 +464,8 @@
 
       <arg>-<replaceable>options</replaceable></arg>
 
-      <arg choice="plain"><option>restore</option></arg>
+      <arg
+      choice="plain"><option>restore</option><arg><option>-n</option></arg><arg><option>-p</option></arg></arg>
 
       <arg><replaceable>filename</replaceable></arg>
     </cmdsynopsis>
@@ -1246,6 +1259,29 @@
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><emphasis role="bold">recover</emphasis></term>
+
+        <listitem>
+          <para>Added in Shorewall 4.6.5.</para>
+
+          <para>If SAVE_COUNTERS=Yes in <ulink
+          url="/manpages/shorewall.conf.html">shorewall.conf</ulink>(5) and if
+          the file specified by the RESTOREFILE option in <ulink
+          url="/manpages/shorewall.conf.html">shorewall.conf</ulink>(5) exists
+          and is executable, then the command is the same as the <emphasis
+          role="bold">restore</emphasis> command. Otherwise, it is treated the
+          same as the <emphasis role="bold">start</emphasis> command.</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-n</option> option causes Shorewall to avoid
+          updating the routing table(s).</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-p</option> option causes the connection tracking
+          table to be flushed; the <command>conntrack</command> utility must
+          be installed to use this option.</para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
+
       <varlistentry>
         <term><emphasis role="bold">refresh</emphasis></term>
 
@@ -1420,6 +1456,14 @@
           <emphasis>filename</emphasis> is given then Shorewall will be
           restored from the file specified by the RESTOREFILE option in <ulink
           url="/manpages/shorewall.conf.html">shorewall.conf</ulink>(5).</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-n</option> option causes Shorewall to avoid
+          updating the routing table(s).</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-p</option> option, added in Shorewall 4.6.5,
+          causes the connection tracking table to be flushed; the
+          <command>conntrack</command> utility must be installed to use this
+          option.</para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
diff --git a/Shorewall6/Samples6/Universal/shorewall6.conf b/Shorewall6/Samples6/Universal/shorewall6.conf
index d870d8341..c8eb7ded2 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/Samples6/Universal/shorewall6.conf
+++ b/Shorewall6/Samples6/Universal/shorewall6.conf
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ REQUIRE_INTERFACE=Yes
 
 RESTORE_ROUTEMARKS=Yes
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=No
diff --git a/Shorewall6/Samples6/one-interface/shorewall6.conf b/Shorewall6/Samples6/one-interface/shorewall6.conf
index 03a3954da..409ff9807 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/Samples6/one-interface/shorewall6.conf
+++ b/Shorewall6/Samples6/one-interface/shorewall6.conf
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ REQUIRE_INTERFACE=No
 
 RESTORE_ROUTEMARKS=Yes
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=No
diff --git a/Shorewall6/Samples6/three-interfaces/shorewall6.conf b/Shorewall6/Samples6/three-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
index 5df52bc59..d50fe1ecc 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/Samples6/three-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
+++ b/Shorewall6/Samples6/three-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ REQUIRE_INTERFACE=No
 
 RESTORE_ROUTEMARKS=Yes
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=No
diff --git a/Shorewall6/Samples6/two-interfaces/shorewall6.conf b/Shorewall6/Samples6/two-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
index 59763bf2e..6d6e70d6e 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/Samples6/two-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
+++ b/Shorewall6/Samples6/two-interfaces/shorewall6.conf
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ REQUIRE_INTERFACE=No
 
 RESTORE_ROUTEMARKS=Yes
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=No
diff --git a/Shorewall6/configfiles/shorewall6.conf b/Shorewall6/configfiles/shorewall6.conf
index d02ad3658..afebc9e70 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/configfiles/shorewall6.conf
+++ b/Shorewall6/configfiles/shorewall6.conf
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ REQUIRE_INTERFACE=No
 
 RESTORE_ROUTEMARKS=Yes
 
+SAVE_COUNTERS=No
+
 SAVE_IPSETS=No
 
 TC_ENABLED=No
diff --git a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.conf.xml b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.conf.xml
index be535f1e4..2942ea93e 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.conf.xml
+++ b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.conf.xml
@@ -2122,6 +2122,20 @@ INLINE          -       -       -       ; -j REJECT
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><emphasis role="bold">SAVE_COUNTERS=</emphasis>[<emphasis
+        role="bold">Yes</emphasis>|<emphasis role="bold">No</emphasis>]</term>
+
+        <listitem>
+          <para>Added in Shorewall 4.6.5.</para>
+
+          <para>When set to Yes, this option causes the <emphasis
+          role="bold">save</emphasis> and <emphasis
+          role="bold">restore</emphasis> commands to respectively save and
+          restore chain counters.</para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
+
       <varlistentry>
         <term><emphasis role="bold">SAVE_IPSETS=</emphasis>{<emphasis
         role="bold">Yes</emphasis>|<emphasis
diff --git a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
index 34e3633d6..bda02476b 100644
--- a/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
+++ b/Shorewall6/manpages/shorewall6.xml
@@ -308,6 +308,18 @@
       expression</replaceable></arg>
     </cmdsynopsis>
 
+    <cmdsynopsis>
+      <command>shorewall6</command>
+
+      <arg
+      choice="opt"><option>trace</option>|<option>debug</option><arg><option>nolock</option></arg></arg>
+
+      <arg>-<replaceable>options</replaceable></arg>
+
+      <arg
+      choice="plain"><option>recover</option><arg><option>-n</option></arg><arg><option>-p</option></arg></arg>
+    </cmdsynopsis>
+
     <cmdsynopsis>
       <command>shorewall6</command>
 
@@ -1130,6 +1142,30 @@
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><emphasis role="bold">recover</emphasis></term>
+
+        <listitem>
+          <para>Added in Shorewall 4.6.5.</para>
+
+          <para>If SAVE_COUNTERS=Yes in <ulink
+          url="/manpages6/shorewall6.conf.html">shorewall6.conf</ulink>(5) and
+          if the file specified by the RESTOREFILE option in <ulink
+          url="/manpages6/shorewall6.conf.html">shorewall6.conf</ulink>(5)
+          exists and is executable, then the command is the same as the
+          <emphasis role="bold">restore</emphasis> command. Otherwise, it is
+          treated the same as the <emphasis role="bold">start</emphasis>
+          command.</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-n</option> option causes Shorewall to avoid
+          updating the routing table(s).</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>-p</option> option causes the connection tracking
+          table to be flushed; the <command>conntrack</command> utility must
+          be installed to use this option.</para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
+
       <varlistentry>
         <term><emphasis role="bold">refresh</emphasis></term>