diff --git a/libexec/rc/rc.d/ipfw b/libexec/rc/rc.d/ipfw
index 64643f0438e..ef8ce796b41 100755
--- a/libexec/rc/rc.d/ipfw
+++ b/libexec/rc/rc.d/ipfw
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@ ipfw_stop()
 ipfw_status()
 {
 	status=$(sysctl -i -n net.inet.ip.fw.enable)
+	if afexists inet6; then
+		status=$(( $status + $(sysctl -i -n net.inet6.ip6.fw.enable) ))
+	fi
 	if [ ${status:-0} -eq 0 ]; then
 		echo "ipfw is not enabled"
 		exit 1