diff --git a/Shorewall/firewall b/Shorewall/firewall
index bf404ccef..a0f59f113 100755
--- a/Shorewall/firewall
+++ b/Shorewall/firewall
@@ -4611,6 +4611,10 @@ do_initialize() {
 	echo "$config does not exist!" >&2
 	exit 2
     fi
+    #
+    # Determine the capabilities of the installed iptables/netfilter
+    #
+    determine_capabilities
 
     [ -z "${STATEDIR}" ] && STATEDIR=/var/state/shorewall
 
@@ -4723,10 +4727,6 @@ do_initialize() {
     strip_file interfaces
     strip_file hosts
     #
-    # Determine the capabilities of the installed iptables/netfilter
-    #
-    determine_capabilities
-    #
     # Check out the user's shell
     #
     [ -n "$SHOREWALL_SHELL" ] || SHOREWALL_SHELL=/bin/sh