diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/manifest b/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/manifest
index a6abbd5e..f02ab18b 100644
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/manifest
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/manifest
@@ -21,12 +21,7 @@
 base_dir=/etc/iptables.d
 
 name="$__object_id"
-
-if [ -f "$__object/parameter/state" ]; then
-    state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-else
-    state="present"
-fi
+state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
 
 ################################################################################
 # Basic setup
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/parameter/default/state b/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/parameter/default/state
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7f6134f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__iptables_rule/parameter/default/state
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+present