diff --git a/controller.go b/controller.go
index a62d4fb980..aa75609256 100644
--- a/controller.go
+++ b/controller.go
@@ -719,6 +719,10 @@ func (c *controller) NewNetwork(networkType, name string, id string, options ...
 		}
 	}()
 
+	c.Lock()
+	arrangeUserFilterRule()
+	c.Unlock()
+
 	// First store the endpoint count, then the network. To avoid to
 	// end up with a datastore containing a network and not an epCnt,
 	// in case of an ungraceful shutdown during this function call.
diff --git a/drivers/bridge/setup_ip_tables.go b/drivers/bridge/setup_ip_tables.go
index 1ac7fbc808..d087f0c547 100644
--- a/drivers/bridge/setup_ip_tables.go
+++ b/drivers/bridge/setup_ip_tables.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func setupIPChains(config *configuration) (*iptables.ChainInfo, *iptables.ChainI
 		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create FILTER isolation chain: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := addReturnRule(IsolationChain); err != nil {
+	if err := iptables.AddReturnRule(IsolationChain); err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func (n *bridgeNetwork) setupIPTables(config *networkConfiguration, i *bridgeInt
 	}
 
 	d.Lock()
-	err = ensureJumpRule("FORWARD", IsolationChain)
+	err = iptables.EnsureJumpRule("FORWARD", IsolationChain)
 	d.Unlock()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -285,46 +285,6 @@ func setINC(iface1, iface2 string, enable bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func addReturnRule(chain string) error {
-	var (
-		table = iptables.Filter
-		args  = []string{"-j", "RETURN"}
-	)
-
-	if iptables.Exists(table, chain, args...) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	err := iptables.RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-I", chain}, args...)...)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to add return rule in %s chain: %s", chain, err.Error())
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-// Ensure the jump rule is on top
-func ensureJumpRule(fromChain, toChain string) error {
-	var (
-		table = iptables.Filter
-		args  = []string{"-j", toChain}
-	)
-
-	if iptables.Exists(table, fromChain, args...) {
-		err := iptables.RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-D", fromChain}, args...)...)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("unable to remove jump to %s rule in %s chain: %s", toChain, fromChain, err.Error())
-		}
-	}
-
-	err := iptables.RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-I", fromChain}, args...)...)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to insert jump to %s rule in %s chain: %s", toChain, fromChain, err.Error())
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 func removeIPChains() {
 	for _, chainInfo := range []iptables.ChainInfo{
 		{Name: DockerChain, Table: iptables.Nat},
diff --git a/iptables/iptables.go b/iptables/iptables.go
index d4f4aa23dd..57edaff43f 100644
--- a/iptables/iptables.go
+++ b/iptables/iptables.go
@@ -465,3 +465,43 @@ func parseVersionNumbers(input string) (major, minor, micro int) {
 func supportsCOption(mj, mn, mc int) bool {
 	return mj > 1 || (mj == 1 && (mn > 4 || (mn == 4 && mc >= 11)))
 }
+
+func AddReturnRule(chain string) error {
+	var (
+		table = Filter
+		args  = []string{"-j", "RETURN"}
+	)
+
+	if Exists(table, chain, args...) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	err := RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-I", chain}, args...)...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to add return rule in %s chain: %s", chain, err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Ensure the jump rule is on top
+func EnsureJumpRule(fromChain, toChain string) error {
+	var (
+		table = Filter
+		args  = []string{"-j", toChain}
+	)
+
+	if Exists(table, fromChain, args...) {
+		err := RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-D", fromChain}, args...)...)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to remove jump to %s rule in %s chain: %s", toChain, fromChain, err.Error())
+		}
+	}
+
+	err := RawCombinedOutput(append([]string{"-I", fromChain}, args...)...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to insert jump to %s rule in %s chain: %s", toChain, fromChain, err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/service_linux.go b/service_linux.go
index 2bcb6de5eb..164391eb04 100644
--- a/service_linux.go
+++ b/service_linux.go
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ func (sb *sandbox) rmLBBackend(ip, vip net.IP, fwMark uint32, ingressPorts []*Po
 	}
 }
 
+const userChain = "DOCKER-USER"
 const ingressChain = "DOCKER-INGRESS"
 
 var (
@@ -449,6 +450,27 @@ func arrangeIngressFilterRule() {
 	}
 }
 
+// This chain allow users to configure firewall policies in a way that persists
+// docker operations/restarts. Docker will not delete or modify any pre-existing
+// rules from the DOCKER-USER filter chain.
+func arrangeUserFilterRule() {
+	_, err := iptables.NewChain(userChain, iptables.Filter, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("Failed to create %s chain: %v", userChain, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err = iptables.AddReturnRule(userChain); err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("Failed to add the RETURN rule for %s: %v", userChain, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = iptables.EnsureJumpRule("FORWARD", userChain)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Warnf("Failed to create the jump rule for %s: %v", userChain, err)
+	}
+}
+
 func findOIFName(ip net.IP) (string, error) {
 	nlh := ns.NlHandle()
 
diff --git a/service_unsupported.go b/service_unsupported.go
index 37b9828191..049e1065db 100644
--- a/service_unsupported.go
+++ b/service_unsupported.go
@@ -23,3 +23,6 @@ func (sb *sandbox) populateLoadbalancers(ep *endpoint) {
 
 func arrangeIngressFilterRule() {
 }
+
+func arrangeUserFilterRule() {
+}
diff --git a/service_windows.go b/service_windows.go
index 6fe521ef99..264a75c782 100644
--- a/service_windows.go
+++ b/service_windows.go
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ func (sb *sandbox) populateLoadbalancers(ep *endpoint) {
 
 func arrangeIngressFilterRule() {
 }
+
+func arrangeUserFilterRule() {
+}