diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
index d2aa9a1b5..af588d8fb 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Rules.pm
@@ -1689,9 +1689,12 @@ sub add_interface_jumps {
     # Add the jumps to the interface chains from filter FORWARD, INPUT, OUTPUT
     #
     for my $interface ( @_ ) {
-	my $forwardref = $filter_table->{forward_chain $interface};
-	my $inputref   = $filter_table->{input_chain $interface};
-	my $outputref  = $filter_table->{output_chain $interface};
+	my $forwardref   = $filter_table->{forward_chain $interface};
+	my $inputref     = $filter_table->{input_chain $interface};
+	my $outputref    = $filter_table->{output_chain $interface};
+	my $interfaceref = find_interface($interface);
+
+	add_rule ( $filter_table->{FORWARD}, match_source_dev( $interface) . match_dest_dev( $interface) . '-j ACCEPT' ) unless $interfaceref->{nets} || ! $interfaceref->{options}{routeback};
 
 	add_jump( $filter_table->{FORWARD} , $forwardref , 0, match_source_dev( $interface ) ) unless $forward_jump_added{$interface} || ! use_forward_chain $interface, $forwardref;
 	add_jump( $filter_table->{INPUT}   , $inputref ,   0, match_source_dev( $interface ) ) unless $input_jump_added{$interface}   || ! use_input_chain $interface, $inputref;
diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Zones.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Zones.pm
index c5265bac3..7f7f198e9 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Zones.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/Zones.pm
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ sub initialize( $ ) {
 				  nosmurfs    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
 				  optional    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION,
 				  proxyarp    => BINARY_IF_OPTION,
-				  routeback   => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_ZONEONLY + IF_OPTION_HOST,
+				  routeback   => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
 				  routefilter => NUMERIC_IF_OPTION ,
 				  sourceroute => BINARY_IF_OPTION,
 				  tcpflags    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ sub initialize( $ ) {
 				    nosmurfs    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
 				    optional    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION,
 				    proxyndp    => BINARY_IF_OPTION,
-				    routeback   => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_ZONEONLY + IF_OPTION_HOST,
+				    routeback   => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
 				    sourceroute => BINARY_IF_OPTION,
 				    tcpflags    => SIMPLE_IF_OPTION + IF_OPTION_HOST,
 				    mss         => NUMERIC_IF_OPTION,
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ sub add_group_to_zone($$$$$)
 	push @$new, $host;
     }
 
-    $zoneref->{options}{in_out}{routeback} = 1 if $options->{routeback};
+    $zoneref->{options}{in_out}{routeback} = 1 if $options->{routeback} || $interfaces{$interface}{options}{routeback};
 
     my $gtype = $type == IPSEC ? 'ipsec' : 'ip';
 
diff --git a/Shorewall/changelog.txt b/Shorewall/changelog.txt
index 841b6285a..4246337df 100644
--- a/Shorewall/changelog.txt
+++ b/Shorewall/changelog.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ Changes in Shorewall 4.4.9
 
 18) Fix rare optimization bug.
 
+19) Allow definition of an addressless bridge without a zone.
+
 Changes in Shorewall 4.4.8
 
 1)  Correct handling of RATE LIMIT on NAT rules.
diff --git a/Shorewall/releasenotes.txt b/Shorewall/releasenotes.txt
index 2d5133ada..b85d8b72d 100644
--- a/Shorewall/releasenotes.txt
+++ b/Shorewall/releasenotes.txt
@@ -367,6 +367,25 @@ None.
     searches the current LOGFILE for Netfilter messages matching the
     supplied regex.
 
+6)  There are some instances where a bridge with no IP address is
+    configured. Prior to Shorewall 4.4.9, this required the following:
+
+    /etc/shorewall/interfaces:
+    #ZONE	INTERFACE	BROADCAST	OPTIONS
+    dummy	br0		-		routeback
+    
+    /etc/shorewall/policy:
+    #SOURCE	DEST		POLICY
+    dummy	all		NONE
+    all		dummy		NONE
+
+    Beginning in this release, a single entry will suffice:
+
+    /etc/shorewall/interfaces:
+    #ZONE	INTERFACE	BROADCAST	OPTIONS
+    -		br0		-		routeback
+
+
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