diff --git a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
index 46ffd4ee202a..85ed3376b1ab 100644
--- a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
+++ b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
@@ -1564,7 +1564,7 @@ pf_state_expires(const struct pf_state *state)
 	if (!timeout)
 		timeout = V_pf_default_rule.timeout[state->timeout];
 	start = state->rule.ptr->timeout[PFTM_ADAPTIVE_START];
-	if (start) {
+	if (start && state->rule.ptr != &V_pf_default_rule) {
 		end = state->rule.ptr->timeout[PFTM_ADAPTIVE_END];
 		states = counter_u64_fetch(state->rule.ptr->states_cur);
 	} else {