diff --git a/etc/rc.d/dhclient b/etc/rc.d/dhclient
index cc849b895130..fb286bd1d9a9 100755
--- a/etc/rc.d/dhclient
+++ b/etc/rc.d/dhclient
@@ -28,17 +28,13 @@ dhclient_start()
 	fi
 
 	# Override for $ifn specific flags (see rc.subr for $flags setting)
-	eval specific=\$dhclient_flags_$ifn
+	specific=`get_if_var $ifn dhclient_flags_IF`
 	if [ -z "$flags" -a -n "$specific" ]; then
 		rc_flags=$specific
 	fi
 
-	eval specific=\$background_dhclient_$ifn
-	if [ -n "$specific" ]; then
-		if checkyesno background_dhclient_$ifn; then
-			rc_flags="${rc_flags} -b"
-		fi
-	elif checkyesno background_dhclient; then
+	background_dhclient=`get_if_var $ifn background_dhclient_IF $background_dhclient`
+	if checkyesno background_dhclient_$ifn; then
 		rc_flags="${rc_flags} -b"
 	fi