diff --git a/iptables/iptables.go b/iptables/iptables.go
index b058995..cbe09e9 100644
--- a/iptables/iptables.go
+++ b/iptables/iptables.go
@@ -194,7 +194,12 @@ func (ipt *IPTables) Exists(table, chain string, rulespec ...string) (bool, erro
 		return ipt.existsForOldIptables(table, chain, rulespec)
 
 	}
-	cmd := append([]string{"-t", table, "-C", chain}, rulespec...)
+	spec := rulespec
+	// truncate "-A <CHAIN>" if present since -A collides with -C
+	if len(spec) > 1 && spec[0] == "-A" {
+		spec = spec[2:]
+	}
+	cmd := append([]string{"-t", table, "-C", chain}, spec...)
 	err := ipt.run(cmd...)
 	eerr, eok := err.(*Error)
 	switch {
@@ -255,7 +260,12 @@ func (ipt *IPTables) AppendUnique(table, chain string, rulespec ...string) error
 
 // Delete removes rulespec in specified table/chain
 func (ipt *IPTables) Delete(table, chain string, rulespec ...string) error {
-	cmd := append([]string{"-t", table, "-D", chain}, rulespec...)
+	spec := rulespec
+	// truncate "-A <CHAIN>" if present since -A collides with -D
+	if len(spec) > 1 && spec[0] == "-A" {
+		spec = spec[2:]
+	}
+	cmd := append([]string{"-t", table, "-D", chain}, spec...)
 	return ipt.run(cmd...)
 }
 
diff --git a/iptables/iptables_test.go b/iptables/iptables_test.go
index cfe4baf..4ecb04a 100644
--- a/iptables/iptables_test.go
+++ b/iptables/iptables_test.go
@@ -522,6 +522,22 @@ func runRulesTests(t *testing.T, ipt *IPTables) {
 		t.Fatalf("DeleteIfExists failed for non-existing rule: %v", err)
 	}
 
+	// Verify DeleteIfExists is compatible with rules returned from List
+	err = ipt.Append("filter", chain, "-s", address3, "-d", subnet2, "-j", "ACCEPT")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Append failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	rules, err = ipt.List("filter", chain)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	err = ipt.DeleteIfExists("filter", chain, rules[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Delete failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	// Clear the chain that was created.
 	err = ipt.ClearChain("filter", chain)
 	if err != nil {