diff --git a/Shorewall/default.debian b/Shorewall/default.debian
index ca4ec8e3d..f66f56dee 100644
--- a/Shorewall/default.debian
+++ b/Shorewall/default.debian
@@ -15,4 +15,12 @@ startup=0
 # or, if you have defined  in /etc/shorewall/params
 #    wait_interface=
 
+#
+# Startup options -- if you specify '-f' then Shorewall will use the last saved
+#                    configuration if any; this is much faster than parsing the
+#                    configuration files.
+#
+
+OPTIONS="-f"
+
 # EOF