diff --git a/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.sh b/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.sh
index ca426e5c50d0..479228b4a6f5 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.sh
+++ b/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ fi
 # to see if there are additional dirs to check
 if [ -r /etc/defaults/rc.conf ]; then
     . /etc/defaults/rc.conf
+    source_rc_confs
 elif [ -r /etc/rc.conf ]; then
     . /etc/rc.conf
 fi