diff --git a/etc/inc/filter.inc b/etc/inc/filter.inc
index 3a6268d581..34fcaf2856 100644
--- a/etc/inc/filter.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/filter.inc
@@ -139,10 +139,16 @@ function filter_configure() {
 	} else {
 		/* process packager manager custom rules */
 		$files = return_dir_as_array("/usr/local/pkg/pf/");
-		foreach ($files as $file) {
-			$text = return_filename_as_string($file);
-			eval($text);
+		if($files <> "") {
+			foreach ($files as $file) {
+				if($file <> "") {
+					$text = return_filename_as_string($file);
+					if($text != "")
+						eval($text);
+				}
+			}
 		}
+
 		return 0;
 	}
 }
@@ -949,10 +955,12 @@ function filter_rules_generate() {
 	$ipfrules .= <<<EOD
 
 # loopback
+anchor "loopback"
 pass in quick on lo0 all label "pass loopback"
 pass out quick on lo0 all label "pass loopback"
 
 # pass traffic from firewall -> out
+anchor "firewallout"
 pass out quick on $wanif inet proto tcp from $wanif to any keep state
 
 # enable ftp-proxy
@@ -974,6 +982,7 @@ EOD;
 			$ipfrules .= <<<EOD
 
 # allow access to DHCP server on {$on}
+anchor "dhcpserver"
 pass in quick on {$oc['if']} proto udp from any port = 68 to 255.255.255.255 port = 67 label "allow access to DHCP server"
 pass in quick on {$oc['if']} proto udp from any port = 68 to {$oc['ip']} port = 67 label "allow access to DHCP server"
 pass out quick on {$oc['if']} proto udp from {$oc['ip']} port = 67 to any port = 68 label "allow access to DHCP server"
@@ -1034,6 +1043,7 @@ EOD;
 	$ipfrules .= <<<EOD
 
 # WAN spoof check
+anchor "wanspoof"
 block in $log quick on $wanif from $lansa/$lansn to any label "WAN spoof check"
 
 EOD;
@@ -1062,6 +1072,7 @@ EOD;
 # allow our DHCP client out to the WAN
 # XXX - should be more restrictive
 # (not possible at the moment - need 'me' like in ipfw)
+anchor "wandhcp"
 pass out quick on $wanif proto udp from any port = 68 to any port = 67 label "allow dhcp client out wan"
 block in $log quick on $wanif proto udp from any port = 67 to $lansa/$lansn port = 68 label "allow dhcp client out wan"
 pass in quick on $wanif proto udp from any port = 67 to any port = 68 label "allow dhcp client out wan"
diff --git a/etc/inc/pfsense-utils.inc b/etc/inc/pfsense-utils.inc
index 6ebe2477ac..887994e9d0 100644
--- a/etc/inc/pfsense-utils.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/pfsense-utils.inc
@@ -41,12 +41,15 @@ function log_error($error) {
  * return_dir_as_array($dir): returns $dir contents as an array
  */
 function return_dir_as_array($dir) {
+    $dir_array = array();
     if (is_dir($dir)) {
-	$dir_array = array();
 	if ($dh = opendir($dir)) {
 	    while (($file = readdir($dh)) !== false) {
-		array_push($dir_array, $file);
-		//echo "filename: $file : filetype: " . filetype($dir . $file) . "\n";
+		$canadd = 0;
+		if($file == ".") $canadd = 1;
+		if($file == "..") $canadd = 1;
+		if($canadd == 0)
+		    array_push($dir_array, $file);
 	    }
 	    closedir($dh);
 	}
@@ -59,7 +62,7 @@ function return_dir_as_array($dir) {
  */
 function return_filename_as_string($filename) {
     $tmp = "";
-    $fd = popen($filename, "r");
+    $fd = fopen($filename, "r");
     while(!feof($fd)) {
 	$tmp .= fread($fd,49);
     }