diff --git a/etc/rc.d/pf b/etc/rc.d/pf
index 8dcc40d466eb..323e639edf11 100755
--- a/etc/rc.d/pf
+++ b/etc/rc.d/pf
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ pf_resync()
 
 pf_status()
 {
-	$pf_program -s info
+	if ! [ -c /dev/pf ] ; then
+		echo "pf.ko is not loaded"
+	else
+		$pf_program -s info
+	fi
 }
 
 run_rc_command "$1"