diff --git a/libexec/rc/rc.conf b/libexec/rc/rc.conf
--- a/libexec/rc/rc.conf
+++ b/libexec/rc/rc.conf
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 ##############################################################
 
 # Set default value of _localbase if not previously set
+: ${_localbase:="$(/sbin/sysctl -n user.localbase 2> /dev/null)"}
 : ${_localbase:="/usr/local"}
 
 # rc_debug can't be set here without interferring with rc.subr's setting it