index 68f14a5203db..2b3d6e4c58be 100644
--- a/src/firewall/core/ipXtables.py
+++ b/src/firewall/core/ipXtables.py
@@ -541,6 +541,8 @@ class ip4tables(object):
         self.rich_rule_priority_counts = {}
         rules = []
         for table in BUILT_IN_CHAINS.keys():
+            if not self.get_available_tables(table):
+                continue
             # Flush firewall rules: -F
             # Delete firewall chains: -X
             # Set counter to zero: -Z
@@ -552,6 +554,8 @@ class ip4tables(object):
         rules = []
         _policy = "DROP" if policy == "PANIC" else policy
         for table in BUILT_IN_CHAINS.keys():
+            if not self.get_available_tables(table):
+                continue
             if table == "nat":
                 continue
             for chain in BUILT_IN_CHAINS[table]:
@@ -598,12 +602,13 @@ class ip4tables(object):
     def build_default_rules(self, log_denied="off"):
         default_rules = {}
 
-        default_rules["security"] = [ ]
-        self.our_chains["security"] = set()
-        for chain in BUILT_IN_CHAINS["security"]:
-            default_rules["security"].append("-N %s_direct" % chain)
-            default_rules["security"].append("-A %s -j %s_direct" % (chain, chain))
-            self.our_chains["security"].add("%s_direct" % chain)
+        if self.get_available_tables("security"):
+            default_rules["security"] = [ ]
+            self.our_chains["security"] = set()
+            for chain in BUILT_IN_CHAINS["security"]:
+                default_rules["security"].append("-N %s_direct" % chain)
+                default_rules["security"].append("-A %s -j %s_direct" % (chain, chain))
+                self.our_chains["security"].add("%s_direct" % chain)
 
         default_rules["raw"] = [ ]
         self.our_chains["raw"] = set()