diff --git a/net/nut/files/nut-common.sh.functions b/net/nut/files/nut-common.sh.functions
index a10ff11744..c077c27f5b 100644
--- a/net/nut/files/nut-common.sh.functions
+++ b/net/nut/files/nut-common.sh.functions
@@ -175,19 +175,32 @@ log_error() {
 	log_msg "$reason" "$current_script" "$syslog_id" "error"
 }
 
-note_section_of_type() {
-	have_expected_section="true"
+note_section_match() {
+	local section="$1"
+	local wanted="$2"
+
+	if [ -n "$section" ] && [ "$section" = "$wanted" ]; then
+		have_expected_section="true"
+	fi
 }
 
-have_section_of_type() {
+have_section_named() {
 	local section_type="$1"
+	local section_name="$2"
+	local ret
 
 	# 'pseudo-global' to capture result from config_foreach
 	local have_expected_section="false"
-	config_foreach note_section_of_type "$section_type"
+	config_foreach note_section_match "$section_type" "$section_name"
+	ret=$?
 
 	if [ "$have_expected_section" = "true" ]; then
 		return 0
 	fi
-	return 1
+
+	if [ "$ret" = "0" ]; then
+		return 1
+	else
+		return $ret
+	fi
 }
diff --git a/net/nut/files/nut-monitor.init b/net/nut/files/nut-monitor.init
index 6de2ba18a6..7fa9dccbf1 100644
--- a/net/nut/files/nut-monitor.init
+++ b/net/nut/files/nut-monitor.init
@@ -80,11 +80,11 @@ service_preconditions() {
 			exit 1
 		}
 
-		if have_section_of_type "upsmon"; then
+		if have_section_named "upsmon" "upsmon"; then
 			# Find the RUNAS user for upsmon
-			if ! find_runas "upsmon" "nut_monitor" "nutmon" || [ -z "$RUNAS" ]; then
+			RUNAS="$(find_runas "upsmon" "nut_monitor" "nutmon")" || {
 				log_error_exit "Failed to determine RUNAS user" "nut-monitor" "nut-monitor"
-			fi
+			}
 		else
 			# If we do not have a 'upsmon' section in nut_monitor, use defaults
 			log_msg "No upsmon section so no RUNAS user, falling back to nutmon" "nut-monitor" "nut-monitor" "notice"
@@ -104,18 +104,16 @@ service_preconditions() {
 start_monitor_instance() {
 	procd_open_instance upsmon
 	procd_set_param respawn
-	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + syslog
+	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + logger (with -s)
 	procd_set_param stdout 1
 	procd_set_param env NUT_QUIET_INIT_UPSNOTIFY=true
 	procd_set_param reload_signal HUP
 	procd_set_param command /usr/sbin/upsmon
 	procd_append_param command -FF
-	if [ -n "$RUNAS" ]; then
-		# upsmon needs root for some actions (like
-		# shutting down the system, but forks
-		# and drops root for most of its operation)
-		procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
-	fi
+	# upsmon needs root for some actions (like
+	# shutting down the system), but forks
+	# and drops root for most of its operation
+	procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
 	procd_close_instance
 }
 
@@ -211,8 +209,8 @@ service_triggers() {
 
 	config_get interface_reload_delay upsmon interface_reload_delay $DEFAULT_PROCD_INTERFACE_RELOAD_DELAY
 
-	# We do not pass an instance name as the nut-monitor initscript does not need
-	# an additional instance argument
+	# We do not pass a variadic instance name as the nut-monitor initscript does
+	# not need an additional instance name argument, only the initscript name
 	interface_triggers "add_trigger" "upsmon" "$interface_reload_delay" "nut-monitor" || {
 		log_error_exit "Failed to add interface triggers" nut-monitor nut-monitor
 	}
diff --git a/net/nut/files/nut-server-config.sh.functions b/net/nut/files/nut-server-config.sh.functions
index 36693a55be..f5533b15b4 100644
--- a/net/nut/files/nut-server-config.sh.functions
+++ b/net/nut/files/nut-server-config.sh.functions
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ build_server_config() {
 	# are named the same
 	config_foreach nut_user_add user "$USERS_C.new"
 	config_foreach listen_address listen_address "$UPSD_C.new"
-	if have_section_of_type "upsd"; then
-		config_foreach srv_config upsd "$UPSD_C.new"
+	if have_section_named "upsd" "upsd"; then
+		srv_config upsd "$UPSD_C.new"
 	else
 		# If config 'nut_server' does not have a 'upsd' section, use a default
 		# configuration
diff --git a/net/nut/files/nut-server.init b/net/nut/files/nut-server.init
index 1a593f7e5e..e317e46a3b 100644
--- a/net/nut/files/nut-server.init
+++ b/net/nut/files/nut-server.init
@@ -101,15 +101,13 @@ start_ups_driver() {
 
 	procd_open_instance "$ups"
 	procd_set_param respawn
-	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + syslog
+	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + logger (with -s)
 	procd_set_param stdout 1
 	procd_set_param env NUT_QUIET_INIT_UPSNOTIFY=true
 	procd_set_param env NUT_STATEPATH="${STATEPATH}"
 	procd_set_param command "/usr/libexec/nut/${driver}"
 	procd_append_param command -FF -a "$ups"
-	if [ -n "$RUNAS" ]; then
-		procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
-	fi
+	procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
 	procd_close_instance
 
 	# If upsd is running, reload it to pick up new driver
@@ -142,16 +140,13 @@ common_preconditions() {
 		exit 1
 	}
 
-	if have_section_of_type "upsd"; then
-		# Only find statepath and runas once per service start or reload
-		# defines STATEPATH
-		find_statepath "upsd" "nut_server" || {
+	# Only find statepath and runas once per service start or reload
+	if have_section_named "upsd" "upsd"; then
+		STATEPATH="$(find_statepath "upsd" "nut_server")" || {
 			log_error_exit "Failed to determine STATEPATH" "nut-server" "nut-server"
 		}
-		# sets RUNAS
-		find_runas "upsd" "nut_server" || {
-			log_error "Failed to determine RUNAS" "nut-server" "nut-server"
-			return 1
+		RUNAS="$(find_runas "upsd" "nut_server")" || {
+			log_error_exit "Failed to determine RUNAS" "nut-server" "nut-server"
 		}
 	else
 		# If there is no 'upsd' section in the nut_server config file, use
@@ -317,15 +312,13 @@ start_server_instance() {
 
 	procd_open_instance upsd
 	procd_set_param respawn
-	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + syslog
+	procd_set_param stderr 0 # stderr is just a dup of stdout + logger (with -s)
 	procd_set_param stdout 1
 	procd_set_param env NUT_QUIET_INIT_UPSNOTIFY=true
 	procd_set_param env NUT_STATEPATH="$STATEPATH"
 	procd_set_param command /usr/sbin/upsd
 	procd_append_param command -FF
-	if [ -n "$RUNAS" ]; then
-		procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
-	fi
+	procd_append_param command -u "$RUNAS"
 	procd_close_instance
 }
 
diff --git a/net/nut/files/nut-service.sh.functions b/net/nut/files/nut-service.sh.functions
index 7ca0da4f15..b750c3bcf6 100644
--- a/net/nut/files/nut-service.sh.functions
+++ b/net/nut/files/nut-service.sh.functions
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ NUT_BASE_STATEPATH="/var/run/nut"
 
 # STATEPATH and RUNAS values are not valid until after find_statepath
 # and/or find_runas
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
 STATEPATH=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
 RUNAS=""
 
 # Default delay between interface change and interface trigger reload action
@@ -147,96 +149,66 @@ signal_instance() {
 	return 0
 }
 
-config_foreach_get() {
-	local section="$1"
-	local option="$2"
-	local value
-
-	# nut_found_value is a 'pseudo-global' variable so that the value can be
-	# passed back to the calling function (that is the variable is defined in
-	# that function's context, and modification in functions called from that
-	# function will update the variable there).
-	config_get value "$section" "$option"
-	if [ -n "$value" ]; then
-		nut_found_value="$value"
-		nut_found_value_count=$((nut_found_value_count + 1))
-	fi
-	return 0
-}
-
-find_foreach_value() {
-	local section_type="$1"
-	local package="$2"
-	local option="$3"
-	local default="$4"
-	local nut_found_value=""
-	local nut_found_value_count=0
-
-	# 'pseudo-global' variable so that the value can be passed back to this function (that is the
-	# variable is defined in this function's context, and modification in functions called from
-	# this function will update variable here).
-	nut_value_via_foreach=""
-
-	config_foreach config_foreach_get "$section_type" "$option" || {
-		log_error "config_foreach for config_foreach_get for '$package'.'$section_type' failed." nut-service.sh nut-service
-		# nut_found_value and nut_found_value_count are indeterminate on config_foreach failure
-		nut_found_value=""
-		nut_found_value_count=0
-		return 1
-	}
-
-	if [ "$nut_found_value_count" -gt 1 ]; then
-		# Informational log messages, not error
-		logger -t nut-common "Found more than one '$option' setting in '$package' for '$section_type'."
-		logger -t nut-common "Using last found '$option': nut_found_value='$nut_found_value'"
-	fi
-
-	if [ -z "$nut_found_value" ]; then
-		nut_found_value="$default"
-	fi
-
-	nut_value_via_foreach="$nut_found_value"
-	return 0
-}
-
 # Store path for NUT working data in the global variable STATEPATH
 # shellcheck disable=SC2329
 find_statepath() {
-	local section_type="$1"
+	local section="$1"
 	local package="$2"
-	# Callers should not need to see the variable below outside this function
-	# Conversely, functions called by this function are able to see and set
-	# the variable below, which acts as a 'pseudo-global' to called functions.
-	local nut_value_via_foreach=""
+	local ret statepath
 
-	find_foreach_value "$section_type" "$package" statepath "$NUT_BASE_STATEPATH" || return 1
+	# Subshell so as not to interfere with main config_load
+	(
+		config_load "$package" || {
+			log_config_load_error "$package" "nut-service.sh" "nut-service"
+			exit 1
+		}
+		config_get statepath "$section" statepath "$NUT_BASE_STATEPATH"
+		ret=$?
 
-	# shellcheck disable=2034
-	STATEPATH="$nut_value_via_foreach"
-	return 0
+		if [ -n "$statepath" ]; then
+			printf "%s" "$statepath"
+		elif [ "$ret" != "0" ]; then
+			exit $ret
+		else
+			exit 1
+		fi
+	) || return $?
 }
 
 # Store user under which to run daemon processes
 # shellcheck disable=SC2329
 find_runas() {
-	local section_type="$1"
+	local section="$1"
 	local package="$2"
 	local fallback_runas="$3"
-	# Callers should not need to see the variable below outside this function
-	# Conversely, functions called by this function are able to see and set
-	# the variable below, which acts as a 'pseudo-global' to called functions.
-	local nut_value_via_foreach=""
+	local runas ret
 
-	find_foreach_value "$section_type" "$package" runas "${fallback_runas:-nut}" || return 1
-	[ -n "$nut_value_via_foreach" ] || return 1
-	[ -n "$(id -un "$nut_value_via_foreach")" ] || {
-		log_error "User '$nut_value_via_foreach' specified for RUNAS does not exist." nut-service.sh nut-service
-		return 1
-	}
+	# Subshell so as not to interfere with main config_load
+	(
+		config_load "$package" || {
+			log_config_load_error "$package" "nut-service.sh" "nut-service"
+			exit 1
+		}
+		config_get runas "$section" runas "${fallback_runas:-nut}"
+		ret=$?
 
-	# shellcheck disable=2034
-	RUNAS="$nut_value_via_foreach"
-	return 0
+		if [ -z "$runas" ]; then
+			if [ "$ret" != "0" ]; then
+				exit $ret
+			else
+				exit 1
+			fi
+		fi
+
+		if [ -n "$(id -un "$runas")" ]; then
+			printf "%s" "$runas"
+		else
+			# We omit the output on stderr to avoid potential mixing with the intended printf output on stdout,
+			# when called via command substitution, while maintaining log output to syslog
+			log_error "User '$runas' specified for 'runas' does not exist." nut-service.sh nut-service 2>/dev/null
+			exit 1
+		fi
+	) || return $?
 }
 
 # Detect if service is running under procd, with no instances