diff --git a/sbin/ifupdown b/sbin/ifupdown
index 09038ec..91e2525 100755
--- a/sbin/ifupdown
+++ b/sbin/ifupdown
@@ -338,13 +338,18 @@ def validate_args(op, args):
     #    return True
     if op == 'query' and args.syntaxhelp:
         return True
-    if not args.iflist and not args.all and not args.CLASS:
+    if op == 'reload':
+        if not args.all:
+            print '\'-a\' option is required'
+            return False
+    elif (not args.iflist and
+            not args.all and not args.CLASS):
         print '\'-a\' option or interface list are required'
         return False
     if args.iflist and args.all:
         print '\'-a\' option and interface list are mutually exclusive'
         return False
-    if args.CLASS and (args.all or args.iflist):
+    if op != 'reload' and args.CLASS and (args.all or args.iflist):
         print ('\'--allow\' option is mutually exclusive ' +
                'with interface list and \'-a\'')
         return False