diff --git a/common/rc b/common/rc
index b25cad0e..62952036 100644
--- a/common/rc
+++ b/common/rc
@@ -4209,6 +4209,12 @@ _require_bsd_process_accounting()
 	$ACCTON_PROG off >> $seqres.full
 }
 
+_require_sysctl_variable()
+{
+	local name=$1
+	sysctl $name &>/dev/null || _notrun "$name sysctl unavailable"
+}
+
 init_rc
 
 ################################################################################