diff --git a/iptables-config b/iptables-config
index ec61d23..3d7e176 100644
--- a/iptables-config
+++ b/iptables-config
@@ -45,3 +45,15 @@ IPTABLES_STATUS_LINENUMBERS="yes"
 # Space separated list of sysctl items which are to be reloaded on start.
 # List items will be matched by fgrep.
 #IPTABLES_SYSCTL_LOAD_LIST=".nf_conntrack .bridge-nf"
+
+# Set wait option for iptables-restore calls in seconds
+#   Default: 600
+# Set to 0 to deactivate the wait.
+#IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT=600
+
+# Set wait interval option for iptables-restore calls in microseconds
+#   Default: 1000000
+# Set to 100000 to try to get the lock every 100000 microseconds, 10 times a
+# second.
+# Only usable with IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT > 0
+#IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL=1000000
diff --git a/iptables.init b/iptables.init
index 542677b..8f74bb3 100755
--- a/iptables.init
+++ b/iptables.init
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ IPTABLES_STATUS_NUMERIC="yes"
 IPTABLES_STATUS_VERBOSE="no"
 IPTABLES_STATUS_LINENUMBERS="yes"
 IPTABLES_SYSCTL_LOAD_LIST=""
+IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT=600
+IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL=1000000
 
 # Load firewall configuration.
 [ -f "$IPTABLES_CONFIG" ] && . "$IPTABLES_CONFIG"
@@ -177,6 +179,12 @@ start() {
 
     OPT=
     [ "x$IPTABLES_SAVE_COUNTER" = "xyes" ] && OPT="-c"
+    if [ $IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT -ne 0 ]; then
+       OPT="${OPT} --wait ${IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT}"
+       if [ $IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL -lt 1000000 ]; then
+           OPT="${OPT} --wait-interval ${IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL}"
+       fi
+    fi
 
     $IPTABLES-restore $OPT $IPTABLES_DATA
     if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
@@ -328,6 +336,12 @@ reload() {
 
     OPT=
     [ "x$IPTABLES_SAVE_COUNTER" = "xyes" ] && OPT="-c"
+    if [ $IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT -ne 0 ]; then
+       OPT="${OPT} --wait ${IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT}"
+       if [ $IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL -lt 1000000 ]; then
+           OPT="${OPT} --wait-interval ${IPTABLES_RESTORE_WAIT_INTERVAL}"
+       fi
+    fi
 
     $IPTABLES-restore $OPT $IPTABLES_DATA
     if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then