diff --git a/src/etc/inc/filter.inc b/src/etc/inc/filter.inc
index 07dfaea0e..a3fe8c3d6 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/filter.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/filter.inc
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ function filter_configure()
 	 */
 	if (!file_exists("/var/run/booting")) {
 		configd_run('filter reload');
-		configd_run('filter sync restart');
+		if ( isset($config['hasync']['synchronizetoip']) && trim($config['hasync']['synchronizetoip']) != "") {
+			configd_run('filter sync restart');
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/www/status_filter_reload.php b/src/www/status_filter_reload.php
index 114f17dea..8e50abe1b 100644
--- a/src/www/status_filter_reload.php
+++ b/src/www/status_filter_reload.php
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ if($_GET['getstatus']) {
 }
 if($_POST['reloadfilter']) {
 	configd_run("filter reload");
-        configd_run("filter sync reload");
+	if ( isset($config['hasync']['synchronizetoip']) && trim($config['hasync']['synchronizetoip']) != "") {
+	    // only try to sync when hasync is configured
+            configd_run("filter sync reload");
+        }
 	header("Location: status_filter_reload.php");
 	exit;
 }