diff --git a/advanced/lighttpd.conf.debian b/advanced/lighttpd.conf.debian
index b5bece72..50eebce7 100644
--- a/advanced/lighttpd.conf.debian
+++ b/advanced/lighttpd.conf.debian
@@ -72,4 +72,5 @@ $HTTP["url"] =~ "^/admin/\.(.*)" {
 }
 
 # Add user chosen options held in external file
-include_shell "cat external.conf 2>/dev/null"
+# (use file glob for optional file)
+include "external*.conf"
diff --git a/advanced/lighttpd.conf.fedora b/advanced/lighttpd.conf.fedora
index 43d94d84..605bfb58 100644
--- a/advanced/lighttpd.conf.fedora
+++ b/advanced/lighttpd.conf.fedora
@@ -90,4 +90,5 @@ $HTTP["url"] =~ "^/admin/\.(.*)" {
 }
 
 # Add user chosen options held in external file
-include_shell "cat external.conf 2>/dev/null"
+# (use file glob for optional file)
+include "external*.conf"