diff --git a/etc/inc/config.lib.inc b/etc/inc/config.lib.inc
index 01bd7eccfe..9d5935d414 100644
--- a/etc/inc/config.lib.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/config.lib.inc
@@ -348,10 +348,10 @@ function conf_mount_ro() {
 	if($platform == "cdrom" or $platform == "pfSense")
 		return;
 
-	if($g['booting'])
+	if (refcount_unreference(1000) > 0)
 		return;
 
-	if (refcount_unreference(1000) > 0)
+	if($g['booting'])
 		return;
 
 	clear_subsystem_dirty('mount');
diff --git a/etc/inc/util.inc b/etc/inc/util.inc
index 96a48c72ae..4bf56352f2 100644
--- a/etc/inc/util.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/util.inc
@@ -179,36 +179,44 @@ function send_multiple_events($cmds) {
 }
 
 function refcount_init($reference) {
-	$shmid = shmop_open($reference, "c", 0644, 10);
-	shmop_write($shmid, 0, 0);
-	shmop_close($shmid);
+	$shmid = @shmop_open($reference, "c", 0644, 10);
+	@shmop_write($shmid, 0, 0);
+	@shmop_close($shmid);
 }
 
 function refcount_reference($reference) {
-	$shmid = @shmop_open($reference, "w", 0644, 10);
-	if (!$shmid) {
-		refcount_init($reference);
-		$shmid = shmop_open($reference, "w", 0644, 10);
+	try {
+		$shmid = @shmop_open($reference, "w", 0, 0);
+		if (!$shmid) {
+			refcount_init($reference);
+			$shmid = @shmop_open($reference, "w", 0, 0);
+		}
+		$shm_data = @shmop_read($shmid, 0, 10);
+		$shm_data = intval($shm_data) + 1;
+		@shmop_write($shmid, $shm_data, 0);
+		@shmop_close($shmid);
+	} catch (Exception $e) {
+		log_error($e->getMessage());
 	}
-	$shm_data = shmop_read($shmid, 0, 10);
-	$shm_data = intval($shm_data) + 1;
-	shmop_write($shmid, $shm_data, 0);
-	shmop_close($shmid);
-	
+		
 	return $shm_data;
 }
 
 function refcount_unreference($reference) {
-	/* We assume that the shared memory exists. */
-	$shmid = shmop_open($reference, "w", 0644, 10);
-	$shm_data = shmop_read($shmid, 0, 10);
-	$shm_data = intval($shm_data) - 1;
-	if ($shm_data < 0) {
-		//debug_backtrace();
-		log_error("Reference {$reference} is going negative, not doing unreference.");
-	} else
-		shmop_write($shmid, $shm_data, 0);
-	shmop_close($shmid);
+	try {
+		/* We assume that the shared memory exists. */
+		$shmid = @shmop_open($reference, "w", 0, 0);
+		$shm_data = @shmop_read($shmid, 0, 10);
+		$shm_data = intval($shm_data) - 1;
+		if ($shm_data < 0) {
+			//debug_backtrace();
+			log_error("Reference {$reference} is going negative, not doing unreference.");
+		} else
+			@shmop_write($shmid, $shm_data, 0);
+		@shmop_close($shmid);
+	} catch (Exception $e) {
+		log_error($e->getMessage());
+	}
 	
 	return $shm_data;
 }
@@ -1502,4 +1510,4 @@ function array_merge_recursive_unique($array0, $array1) {
 	return $result;
 }
 
-?>
\ No newline at end of file
+?>