diff --git a/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/daily/150.clean-hoststat b/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/daily/150.clean-hoststat
--- a/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/daily/150.clean-hoststat
+++ b/usr.sbin/periodic/etc/daily/150.clean-hoststat
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #
 # $FreeBSD$
 #
-# Remove stale persistent host status files
+# Remove stale persistent host status files if the mailer supports it.
 #
 
 # If there is a global system configuration file, suck it in.
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 
 case "$daily_clean_hoststat_enable" in
     [Yy][Ee][Ss])
-	if [ -z "$(hoststat 2>&1)" ]; then
+	if ! grep -q '^purgestat' /etc/mail/mailer.conf; then
+	    rc=3
+	elif [ -z "$(hoststat 2>&1)" ]; then
 	    rc=2
 	else
 	    echo ""