diff --git a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/sysctl b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/sysctl
index d18b70af5c9..14c37b8a561 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/sysctl
+++ b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/sysctl
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2006 OpenWrt.org
 
 START=11
+USE_PROCD=1
 
 apply_defaults() {
 	local mem="$(awk '/^MemTotal:/ {print $2}' /proc/meminfo)"
@@ -68,11 +69,19 @@ apply_uci() {
 	config_foreach handle_sysctl sysctl "/tmp/run/sysctl.d/01-uci.conf"
 }
 
-start() {
-	apply_defaults
-	[ -f /tmp/sysctl-default.conf ] || sysctl -a 1>/tmp/sysctl-default.conf 2>/dev/null
+reload_service() {
 	apply_uci
 	for CONF in /etc/sysctl.d/*.conf /etc/sysctl.conf /tmp/run/sysctl.d/*.conf; do
 		[ -f "$CONF" ] && sysctl -e -p "$CONF" >&-
 	done
 }
+
+service_triggers() {
+	procd_add_reload_trigger "sysctl"
+}
+
+start_service() {
+	apply_defaults
+	[ -f /tmp/sysctl-default.conf ] || sysctl -a 1>/tmp/sysctl-default.conf 2>/dev/null
+	reload_service
+}