diff --git a/etc/rc.d/apm b/etc/rc.d/apm
index d88f7c067478..fdae6bc7aa9b 100644
--- a/etc/rc.d/apm
+++ b/etc/rc.d/apm
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ name="apm"
 rcvar=`set_rcvar`
 start_precmd="apm_precmd"
 command="/usr/sbin/${name}"
-command_args="-e enable"
+start_cmd="${command} -e enable"
+stop_cmd="${command} -e disable"
+status_cmd="apm_status"
 
 apm_precmd()
 {
@@ -26,5 +28,19 @@ apm_precmd()
 	return 1
 }
 
+apm_status()
+{
+	case `${command} -s` in
+	1)
+		echo "APM is enabled."
+		return 0
+		;;
+	0)
+		echo "APM is disabled"
+		;;
+	esac
+	return 1
+}
+
 load_rc_config $name
 run_rc_command "$1"
diff --git a/etc/rc.d/apmd b/etc/rc.d/apmd
index 9d2fb87610cf..5f434920292f 100755
--- a/etc/rc.d/apmd
+++ b/etc/rc.d/apmd
@@ -25,8 +25,18 @@ apmd_prestart()
 {
 	case `${SYSCTL_N} hw.machine_arch` in
 	i386)
-		# Start apm if it is not already running
-		/etc/rc.d/apm forcestatus > /dev/null || /etc/rc.d/apm forcestart
+		# Enable apm if it is not already enabled
+		if ! checkyesno apm_enable  && \
+		    ! /etc/rc.d/apm forcestatus 1>/dev/null 2>&1
+		then
+			force_depend apm || return 1
+		fi
+
+		# Warn user about acpi apm compatibility support which
+		# does not work with apmd.
+		if [ ! -e /dev/apmctl ]; then
+		    warn "/dev/apmctl not found; kernel is missing apm(4)"
+		fi
 		;;
 	*)
 		return 1