diff --git a/main/named_acl.c b/main/named_acl.c
index 6f712f7..c5ce468 100644
--- a/main/named_acl.c
+++ b/main/named_acl.c
@@ -577,7 +577,21 @@ int ast_named_acl_init()
 	aco_option_register(&cfg_info, "permit", ACO_EXACT, named_acl_types, NULL, OPT_ACL_T, 1, FLDSET(struct named_acl, ha));
 	aco_option_register(&cfg_info, "deny", ACO_EXACT, named_acl_types, NULL, OPT_ACL_T, 0, FLDSET(struct named_acl, ha));
 
-	aco_process_config(&cfg_info, 0);
+	if (aco_process_config(&cfg_info, 0) == ACO_PROCESS_ERROR) {
+		struct ast_config *cfg;
+		struct ast_flags cfg_flags = { CONFIG_FLAG_FILEUNCHANGED };
+
+		cfg = ast_config_load(named_acl_conf.filename, cfg_flags);
+		if (cfg == CONFIG_STATUS_FILEMISSING) {
+			/* Assume named acl's are not wanted if the config file doesn't exist. */
+			return 0;
+		}
+		if (cfg != CONFIG_STATUS_FILEUNCHANGED && cfg != CONFIG_STATUS_FILEINVALID) {
+			ast_config_destroy(cfg);
+		}
+		/* acl.conf exists but is invalid.  We need to assume it is unsafe to continue. */
+		return -1;
+	}
 
 	return 0;
 }