diff --git a/config/action.d/bsd-ipfw.conf b/config/action.d/bsd-ipfw.conf
index 1285361da..8b0a51aa6 100644
--- a/config/action.d/bsd-ipfw.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/bsd-ipfw.conf
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ actioncheck =
 # Values:  CMD
 #
 # requires an ipfw rule like "deny ip from table(1) to me"
-actionban = ipfw table <table> add <ip>
+actionban = e=`ipfw table <table> add <ip> 2>&1`; x=$?; [ $x -eq 0 -o "$e" = 'ipfw: setsockopt(IP_FW_TABLE_XADD): File exists' ] || { echo "$e" 1>&2; exit $x; }
 
 
 # Option:  actionunban
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ actionban = ipfw table <table> add <ip>
 # Tags:    See jail.conf(5) man page
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionunban = ipfw table <table> delete <ip>
+actionunban = e=`ipfw table <table> delete <ip> 2>&1`; x=$?; [ $x -eq 0 -o "$e" = 'ipfw: setsockopt(IP_FW_TABLE_XDEL): No such process' ] || { echo "$e" 1>&2; exit $x; }
 
 [Init]
 # Option:  table