An
<filename>rc.d
</filename> script must
<quote>source
</quote> <filename>/etc/rc.subr
</filename> (include it using
<quote><command>.
</command></quote>)
<emphasis>before
</emphasis> it calls
<citerefentry><refentrytitle>rc.subr
</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8
</manvolnum></citerefentry> functions so that
<citerefentry><refentrytitle>sh
</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1
</manvolnum></citerefentry> has an opportunity to learn the functions. The preferred style is to source
<filename>/etc/rc.subr
</filename> first of all.