diff --git a/etc/rc.d/sysctl b/etc/rc.d/sysctl
index 80af2291c03..bedddb63669 100644
--- a/etc/rc.d/sysctl
+++ b/etc/rc.d/sysctl
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ if [ -f /etc/sysctl.conf ]; then
 		\#*|'')
 			;;
 		*)
-			sysctl -w ${var}
+			sysctl ${var}
 			;;
 		esac
 	done < /etc/sysctl.conf
diff --git a/etc/rc.sysctl b/etc/rc.sysctl
index 80af2291c03..bedddb63669 100644
--- a/etc/rc.sysctl
+++ b/etc/rc.sysctl
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ if [ -f /etc/sysctl.conf ]; then
 		\#*|'')
 			;;
 		*)
-			sysctl -w ${var}
+			sysctl ${var}
 			;;
 		esac
 	done < /etc/sysctl.conf
diff --git a/etc/sysctl.conf b/etc/sysctl.conf
index d4cae0982d7..85125cb3db2 100644
--- a/etc/sysctl.conf
+++ b/etc/sysctl.conf
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # $FreeBSD$
 #
 #  This file is read when going to multi-user and its contents piped thru
-#  ``sysctl -w'' to adjust kernel values.  ``man 5 sysctl.conf'' for details.
+#  ``sysctl'' to adjust kernel values.  ``man 5 sysctl.conf'' for details.
 #
 
 #vfs.vmiodirenable=0	# Set to 1 to enable the use of the VM subsystem to