diff --git a/contrib/ipfilter/tools/ippool.c b/contrib/ipfilter/tools/ippool.c
index b0466b110af2..c8a9c70b136e 100644
--- a/contrib/ipfilter/tools/ippool.c
+++ b/contrib/ipfilter/tools/ippool.c
@@ -201,10 +201,14 @@ poolnodecommand(remove, argc, argv)
 			}
 			break;
 		case 'T' :
-			ttl = atoi(optarg);
-			if (ttl < 0) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "cannot set negative ttl\n");
-				return -1;
+			if (remove == 0) {
+				ttl = atoi(optarg);
+				if (ttl < 0) {
+					fprintf(stderr, "cannot set negative ttl\n");
+					return -1;
+				}
+			} else {
+				usage(argv[0]);
 			}
 			break;
 		case 'v' :