diff --git a/Shorewall-common/lib.base b/Shorewall-common/lib.base
index e29f99378..5cd4af1b3 100644
--- a/Shorewall-common/lib.base
+++ b/Shorewall-common/lib.base
@@ -957,7 +957,8 @@ ensure_config_path() {
 find_file()
 {
     local saveifs
-    saveifs= directory
+    saveifs= 
+    local directory
 
     case $1 in
 	/*)
diff --git a/Shorewall-perl/prog.header b/Shorewall-perl/prog.header
index 12591e947..c7993e77d 100644
--- a/Shorewall-perl/prog.header
+++ b/Shorewall-perl/prog.header
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ find_file()
 {
     local saveifs
     saveifs=
-    directory
+    local directory
 
     case $1 in
 	/*)