diff --git a/etc/defaults/rc.conf b/etc/defaults/rc.conf
index 125d59e17aa9..fbe18db386af 100644
--- a/etc/defaults/rc.conf
+++ b/etc/defaults/rc.conf
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ opensm_enable="NO"	# Opensm(8) for infiniband devices defaults to off
 casperd_enable="YES"	# casperd(8) daemon
 
 # rctl(8) requires kernel options RACCT and RCTL
-rctl_enable="NO"		# Load rctl(8) rules on boot
+rctl_enable="YES"		# Load rctl(8) rules on boot
 rctl_rules="/etc/rctl.conf"	# rctl(8) ruleset. See rctl.conf(5).
 
 iovctl_files=""		# Config files for iovctl(8)
diff --git a/etc/rc.d/rctl b/etc/rc.d/rctl
index 567436be9da6..93b200d475e9 100755
--- a/etc/rc.d/rctl
+++ b/etc/rc.d/rctl
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 . /etc/rc.subr
 
 name="rctl"
+rcvar="rctl_enable"
 start_cmd="rctl_start"
 stop_cmd="rctl_stop"