diff --git a/share/man/man4/acpi.4 b/share/man/man4/acpi.4
index 40b892def4e..056aadda88e 100644
--- a/share/man/man4/acpi.4
+++ b/share/man/man4/acpi.4
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 .\"
 .\" $FreeBSD$
 .\"
-.Dd June 2, 2010
+.Dd October 12, 2010
 .Dt ACPI 4
 .Os
 .Sh NAME
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ exiting to legacy mode first.
 Default is 0, leave ACPI enabled.
 .It Va hw.acpi.handle_reboot
 Use the ACPI Reset Register capability to reboot the system.
-Default is 0, use legacy reboot support.
 Some newer systems require use of this register, while some only work
 with legacy rebooting support.
 .It Va hw.acpi.lid_switch_state
diff --git a/sys/dev/acpica/acpi.c b/sys/dev/acpica/acpi.c
index fa738184c8f..f9b981b6d3f 100644
--- a/sys/dev/acpica/acpi.c
+++ b/sys/dev/acpica/acpi.c
@@ -587,6 +587,10 @@ acpi_attach(device_t dev)
 	freeenv(env);
     }
 
+    /* Only enable reboot by default if the FADT says it is available. */
+    if (AcpiGbl_FADT.Flags & ACPI_FADT_RESET_REGISTER)
+	sc->acpi_handle_reboot = 1;
+
     /* Only enable S4BIOS by default if the FACS says it is available. */
     if (AcpiGbl_FACS->Flags & ACPI_FACS_S4_BIOS_PRESENT)
 	sc->acpi_s4bios = 1;
@@ -1819,19 +1823,15 @@ acpi_shutdown_final(void *arg, int howto)
 	    DELAY(1000000);
 	    device_printf(sc->acpi_dev, "power-off failed - timeout\n");
 	}
-    } else if ((howto & RB_HALT) == 0 &&
-	(AcpiGbl_FADT.Flags & ACPI_FADT_RESET_REGISTER) &&
-	sc->acpi_handle_reboot) {
+    } else if ((howto & RB_HALT) == 0 && sc->acpi_handle_reboot) {
 	/* Reboot using the reset register. */
-	status = AcpiWrite(
-	    AcpiGbl_FADT.ResetValue, &AcpiGbl_FADT.ResetRegister);
-	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status))
-	    device_printf(sc->acpi_dev, "reset failed - %s\n",
-		AcpiFormatException(status));
-	else {
+	status = AcpiReset();
+	if (ACPI_SUCCESS(status)) {
 	    DELAY(1000000);
 	    device_printf(sc->acpi_dev, "reset failed - timeout\n");
-	}
+	} else if (status != AE_NOT_EXIST)
+	    device_printf(sc->acpi_dev, "reset failed - %s\n",
+		AcpiFormatException(status));
     } else if (sc->acpi_do_disable && panicstr == NULL) {
 	/*
 	 * Only disable ACPI if the user requested.  On some systems, writing