diff --git a/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.conf b/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.conf
--- a/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.conf
+++ b/usr.sbin/periodic/periodic.conf
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
 #
 #
 
+# Set _localbase in case it has not already been set
+# within the main /usr/sbin/periodic script
+if [ -z "${_localbase}" ]; then
+	_localbase=`/sbin/sysctl -n user.localbase 2> /dev/null`
+	# Set default value of _localbase if not previously set
+	: ${_localbase:="/usr/local"}
+fi
+
 # What files override these defaults ?
 periodic_conf_files="/etc/periodic.conf /etc/periodic.conf.local ${_localbase}/etc/periodic.conf"