diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
index cf1dde93b86..8aaec41e848 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.cc
@@ -578,9 +578,18 @@ conf::find_transport_group(std::string_view name)
 	return (it->second.get());
 }
 
+/*
+ * Foreign portal groups (which only redirect to other targets), and portal
+ * groups without any active portals are considered dummies and ports belonging
+ * to such groups are ignored.  However, portal groups that exist in the kernel
+ * prior to ctld starting will contain real ports but no portals, so these are
+ * never considered dummies.
+ */
 bool
 portal_group::is_dummy() const
 {
+	if (pg_kernel)
+		return (false);
 	if (pg_foreign)
 		return (true);
 	if (pg_portals.empty())
@@ -697,6 +706,12 @@ portal_group::set_foreign()
 	pg_foreign = true;
 }
 
+void
+portal_group::set_kernel()
+{
+	pg_kernel = true;
+}
+
 bool
 portal_group::set_offload(const char *offload)
 {
diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.hh b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.hh
index 61213119f91..45590ada411 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.hh
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.hh
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ struct portal_group {
 	bool set_dscp(u_int dscp);
 	virtual bool set_filter(const char *str) = 0;
 	void set_foreign();
+	void set_kernel();
 	bool set_offload(const char *offload);
 	bool set_pcp(u_int pcp);
 	bool set_redirection(const char *addr);
@@ -248,6 +249,7 @@ protected:
 	enum discovery_filter		pg_discovery_filter =
 	    discovery_filter::UNKNOWN;
 	bool				pg_foreign = false;
+	bool				pg_kernel = false;
 	bool				pg_assigned = false;
 	std::list<portal_up>	        pg_portals;
 	std::unordered_map<std::string, port *> pg_ports;
diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/kernel.cc b/usr.sbin/ctld/kernel.cc
index 6b17ce60ac6..a6b0a79850e 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/kernel.cc
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/kernel.cc
@@ -483,6 +483,8 @@ add_iscsi_port(struct kports &kports, struct conf *conf,
 			log_warnx("Failed to add portal-group \"%s\"", pg_name);
 			return;
 		}
+
+		pg->set_kernel();
 	}
 	pg->set_tag(port.cfiscsi_portal_group_tag);
 	if (!conf->add_port(targ, pg, port.port_id)) {
@@ -520,6 +522,8 @@ add_nvmf_port(struct conf *conf, const struct cctl_port &port,
 			    tg_name);
 			return;
 		}
+
+		pg->set_kernel();
 	}
 	pg->set_tag(port.portid);
 	if (!conf->add_port(targ, pg, port.port_id)) {