diff --git a/Shorewall/firewall b/Shorewall/firewall
index 0eb3f516c..eeb5a9fac 100755
--- a/Shorewall/firewall
+++ b/Shorewall/firewall
@@ -507,6 +507,8 @@ determine_zones()
 	    fi
 	    ZONES="$ZONES $z"
 	done
+
+	[ -n "$merged" ] || ZONES="$ZONES $zone"
     }	
 
     strip_file zones