diff --git a/net/strongswan/files/swanctl.init b/net/strongswan/files/swanctl.init
index e39656c02b..46a4b34f9b 100644
--- a/net/strongswan/files/swanctl.init
+++ b/net/strongswan/files/swanctl.init
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ config_child() {
 	[ -n "$if_id" ] && swanctl_xappend4 "if_id_in = $if_id" "if_id_out = $if_id"
 	[ -n "$start_action" -a "$start_action" != "none" ] && swanctl_xappend4 "start_action = $start_action"
 	[ -n "$close_action" -a "$close_action" != "none" ] && swanctl_xappend4 "close_action = $close_action"
-	swanctl_xappend4 "esp_proposals = $esp_proposal"
+	[ -n "$esp_proposal" ] && swanctl_xappend4 "esp_proposals = $esp_proposal"
 	swanctl_xappend4 "mode = $mode"
 
 	if [ -n "$life_time" ]; then
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ config_connection() {
 	fi
 	[ -n "$over_time" ] && swanctl_xappend2 "over_time = $over_time"
 
-	swanctl_xappend2 "proposals = $ike_proposal"
+	[ -n "$ike_proposal" ] && swanctl_xappend2 "proposals = $ike_proposal"
 	[ -n "$dpd_delay" ] && swanctl_xappend2 "dpd_delay = $dpd_delay"
 	[ $encap -eq 1 ] && swanctl_xappend2 "encap = yes" || swanctl_xappend2 "encap = no"
 	[ "$keyingtries" = "%forever" ] && swanctl_xappend2 "keyingtries = 0" || swanctl_xappend2 "keyingtries = $keyingtries"