diff --git a/Shorewall-common/lib.dynamiczones b/Shorewall-common/lib.dynamiczones
index dba54077e..de68cc56d 100644
--- a/Shorewall-common/lib.dynamiczones
+++ b/Shorewall-common/lib.dynamiczones
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ add_to_zone() # $1...${n-1} = <interface>[:<hosts>] $n = zone
 			eval dest_hosts=\"\$${z2}_hosts\"
 
 			for h in $dest_hosts; do
+			    [ "$h" = exclude ] && break;			    
 			    iface=${h%%:*}
 			    iface=${iface#+}
 			    hosts=${h#*:}
@@ -206,6 +207,7 @@ add_to_zone() # $1...${n-1} = <interface>[:<hosts>] $n = zone
 		    eval source_hosts=\"\$${z1}_hosts\"
 
 		    for h in $source_hosts; do
+			[ "$h" = exclude ] && break;
 			iface=${h%%:*}
 			iface=${iface#+}
 			hosts=${h#*:}