diff --git a/sbin/ipfw/ipfw2.c b/sbin/ipfw/ipfw2.c
index fb2f67d2275b..d729df78e5f0 100644
--- a/sbin/ipfw/ipfw2.c
+++ b/sbin/ipfw/ipfw2.c
@@ -1599,8 +1599,6 @@ show_ipfw(struct ip_fw *rule, int pcwidth, int bcwidth)
 			if (cmd->len & F_NOT)
 				printf(" not");
 			proto = cmd->arg1;
-			if (proto != 41)	/* XXX: IPv6 is special */
-				pe = getprotobynumber(cmd->arg1);
 			if (flags & HAVE_OPTIONS)
 				printf(" proto");
 			if (pe)