diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/parse.y b/usr.sbin/ctld/parse.y
index 07b4d671c732..a7e01f6c1529 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/parse.y
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/parse.y
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ conf_new_from_file(const char *path)
 		return (NULL);
 	}
 	check_perms(path);
-	lineno = 0;
+	lineno = 1;
 	yyrestart(yyin);
 	error = yyparse();
 	auth_group = NULL;