diff --git a/usr.sbin/jail/config.c b/usr.sbin/jail/config.c
--- a/usr.sbin/jail/config.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/jail/config.c
@@ -470,6 +470,25 @@
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Return if nopersist parameter is explicitly provided.
+ */
+int
+transition_to_nopersist(struct cfjail *j)
+{
+	struct jailparam *jp;
+
+	// check if outcome of params sequence is that it's still persist
+	if (bool_param(j->intparams[KP_PERSIST]))
+		return 0;
+
+	for (jp = j->jp; jp < j->jp + j->njp; jp++)
+		if (equalopts(jp->jp_name, "persist"))
+			return 1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Return if a boolean parameter exists and is true.
  */
diff --git a/usr.sbin/jail/jail.c b/usr.sbin/jail/jail.c
--- a/usr.sbin/jail/jail.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/jail/jail.c
@@ -106,6 +106,13 @@
     IP__NULL
 };
 
+static const enum intparam startsetcommands[] = {
+    IP__NULL,
+    IP_EXEC_START,
+    IP_COMMAND,
+    IP__NULL
+};
+
 static const enum intparam stopcommands[] = {
     IP__NULL,
     IP_EXEC_PRESTOP,
@@ -412,7 +419,7 @@
 			 * depending on the jail's current status.
 			 */
 		case JF_START_SET:
-			j->flags = j->jid < 0 ? JF_START : JF_SET;
+			j->flags = j->jid < 0 ? JF_START : JF_START_SET;
 			break;
 		case JF_SET_RESTART:
 			if (j->jid < 0) {
@@ -477,6 +484,29 @@
 			dep_done(j, 0);
 			break;
 
+		case JF_START_SET:
+			if (dep_check(j))
+				continue;
+			if (transition_to_nopersist(j) &&
+			    (j->intparams[IP_EXEC_START] ||
+			    j->intparams[IP_COMMAND])) {
+				j->flags |= JF_PERSIST;
+			}
+			if (!(j->flags & JF_DEPEND) && j->comparam == NULL) {
+				if (rdtun_params(j, 1) < 0 ||
+				    update_jail(j) < 0)
+					continue;
+				if (verbose >= 0 && (j->name || verbose > 0))
+					jail_note(j, "updated\n");
+				j->comparam = startsetcommands;
+				j->comstring = NULL;
+			}
+			if (next_command(j))
+				continue;
+			clear_persist(j);
+			dep_done(j, 0);
+			break;
+
 		case JF_STOP:
 		case JF_RESTART:
 			if (j->comparam == NULL) {
@@ -758,7 +788,8 @@
 
 	ns = 0;
 	for (jp = j->jp; jp < j->jp + j->njp; jp++)
-		if (!JP_RDTUN(jp))
+		if (!JP_RDTUN(jp) && !((j->flags & JF_PERSIST) &&
+		    equalopts(jp->jp_name, "persist")))
 			ns++;
 	if (ns == 0)
 		return 0;
@@ -770,7 +801,8 @@
 		return -1;
 	}
 	for (jp = j->jp; jp < j->jp + j->njp; jp++)
-		if (!JP_RDTUN(jp))
+		if (!JP_RDTUN(jp) && !((j->flags & JF_PERSIST) &&
+		    equalopts(jp->jp_name, "persist")))
 			*++sjp = *jp;
 
 	jid = jailparam_set_note(j, setparams, ns,
diff --git a/usr.sbin/jail/jailp.h b/usr.sbin/jail/jailp.h
--- a/usr.sbin/jail/jailp.h
+++ b/usr.sbin/jail/jailp.h
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@
 extern struct cfjail *add_jail(void);
 extern void add_param(struct cfjail *j, const struct cfparam *p,
     enum intparam ipnum, const char *value);
+extern int transition_to_nopersist(struct cfjail *j);
 extern int bool_param(const struct cfparam *p);
 extern int int_param(const struct cfparam *p, int *ip);
 extern const char *string_param(const struct cfparam *p);