diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
index 87559cee5ff..1798e889cc2 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #
 
 # Which version of config(8) is required.
-%VERSREQ=	500002
+%VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
 KERNEL?=	kernel
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386 b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
index 8bbb953659f..acf5001199e 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #
 
 # Which version of config(8) is required.
-%VERSREQ=	500002
+%VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
 KERNEL?=	kernel
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98 b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
index 2f52ccb0ef4..7eab4e69def 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #
 
 # Which version of config(8) is required.
-%VERSREQ=	500002
+%VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
 KERNEL?=	kernel
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
index 8bbb953659f..acf5001199e 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #
 
 # Which version of config(8) is required.
-%VERSREQ=	500002
+%VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
 KERNEL?=	kernel
diff --git a/usr.sbin/config/config.h b/usr.sbin/config/config.h
index 1779dc5a37b..3964211bdfc 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/config/config.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/config/config.h
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ struct opt_list {
 extern char	*ident;
 extern char	*hints;
 extern int	do_trace;
+extern int	hintmode;
 
 char	*get_word(FILE *);
 char	*get_quoted_word(FILE *);
diff --git a/usr.sbin/config/config.y b/usr.sbin/config/config.y
index 0de3e913aa2..5d12b9debf3 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/config/config.y
+++ b/usr.sbin/config/config.y
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ static struct	device *curp = 0;
 struct  device *dtab;
 char	*ident;
 char	*hints;
+int	hintmode;
 int	yyline;
 struct  file_list *ftab;
 char	errbuf[80];
@@ -142,7 +143,10 @@ Config_spec:
 	MAXUSERS NUMBER
 	      = { maxusers = $2; } |
 	HINTS ID
-	      = { hints = $2; };
+	      = {
+		      hints = $2;
+		      hintmode = 1;
+		};
 
 System_spec:
 	CONFIG System_id System_parameter_list
diff --git a/usr.sbin/config/configvers.h b/usr.sbin/config/configvers.h
index 7a398f5c712..a797e64d5dc 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/config/configvers.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/config/configvers.h
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@
  *
  * $FreeBSD$
  */
-#define	CONFIGVERS	500002
+#define	CONFIGVERS	500003
diff --git a/usr.sbin/config/mkmakefile.c b/usr.sbin/config/mkmakefile.c
index 282378082ce..bd110ecc268 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/config/mkmakefile.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/config/mkmakefile.c
@@ -225,6 +225,13 @@ makefile(void)
 	ofp = fopen(path("hints.c.new"), "w");
 	if (ofp == NULL)
 		err(1, "%s", path("hints.c.new"));
+	if (hintmode == 0) {
+		snprintf(line, sizeof(line), "%s.hints", PREFIX);
+		ifp = fopen(line, "r");
+		if (ifp)
+			hintmode = 2;
+	}
+	fprintf(ofp, "int hintmode = %d;\n", hintmode);
 	fprintf(ofp, "char static_hints[] = {\n");
 	if (ifp) {
 		while (fgets(line, BUFSIZ, ifp) != 0) {