diff --git a/Shorewall/firewall b/Shorewall/firewall
index d68e020a8..0d01ac265 100755
--- a/Shorewall/firewall
+++ b/Shorewall/firewall
@@ -4875,6 +4875,7 @@ case "$command" in
 	#
 	shift;
 	do_initialize
+	EMPTY=
 	$@
 	;;
     *)
diff --git a/Shorewall/functions b/Shorewall/functions
index 306d7eef6..494c75c26 100755
--- a/Shorewall/functions
+++ b/Shorewall/functions
@@ -366,9 +366,3 @@ ip_vlsm() {
 	echo $vlsm
     fi
 }
-	
-    
-
-    
-    
-