diff --git a/net/adblock/Makefile b/net/adblock/Makefile
index 106fc6db42..6f5daca77e 100644
--- a/net/adblock/Makefile
+++ b/net/adblock/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=adblock
-PKG_VERSION:=1.3.3
+PKG_VERSION:=1.4.0
 PKG_RELEASE:=1
 PKG_LICENSE:=GPL-3.0+
 PKG_MAINTAINER:=Dirk Brenken <dev@brenken.org>
diff --git a/net/adblock/files/README.md b/net/adblock/files/README.md
index 8ef36be96d..4fe67bdebb 100644
--- a/net/adblock/files/README.md
+++ b/net/adblock/files/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ A lot of people already use adblocker plugins within their desktop browsers, but
 * use dynamic iptables chains/rulesets for adblock related redirects/rejects
 * init system support (start/stop/restart/reload/toggle/stats/cfgup)
 * hotplug support, the adblock start will be triggered by wan 'ifup' event
-* adblock toggle to quickly switch adblocking 'on' or 'off'
+* toggle to quickly switch adblock 'on' or 'off'
 * optional: automatic adblock list backup/restore, backups will be (de-)compressed on the fly (disabled by default)
 * optional: add new adblock sources via uci config (see example below)
 
diff --git a/net/adblock/files/adblock-helper.sh b/net/adblock/files/adblock-helper.sh
index 4aa6b2be37..0e1178437b 100644
--- a/net/adblock/files/adblock-helper.sh
+++ b/net/adblock/files/adblock-helper.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ adb_forcedns=1
 adb_fetchttl=5
 adb_restricted=0
 adb_uci="$(which uci)"
-unset adb_revsrclist
 
 # f_envload: load adblock environment
 #
diff --git a/net/adblock/files/adblock-update.sh b/net/adblock/files/adblock-update.sh
index 94a9e83be1..017da468e9 100755
--- a/net/adblock/files/adblock-update.sh
+++ b/net/adblock/files/adblock-update.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 adb_pid="${$}"
 adb_pidfile="/var/run/adblock.pid"
-adb_scriptver="1.3.3"
+adb_scriptver="1.4.0"
 adb_mincfgver="2.2"
 adb_scriptdir="${0%/*}"
 if [ -r "${adb_pidfile}" ]
@@ -195,17 +195,9 @@ do
             sort -u "${adb_tmpfile}" | eval "${adb_dnsformat}" > "${adb_dnsfile}"
         fi
         rc=${?}
-
-        # finish domain processing, prepare find statement with revised block list source
-        #
         if [ $((rc)) -eq 0 ]
         then
-            if [ -z "${adb_revsrclist}" ]
-            then
-                adb_revsrclist="-name ${adb_dnsprefix}.${src_name}"
-            else
-                adb_revsrclist="${adb_revsrclist} -o -name ${adb_dnsprefix}.${src_name}"
-            fi
+            rev_done="true"
             f_log "   domain merging finished"
         else
             rc=0
@@ -232,67 +224,46 @@ do
     fi
 done
 
-# make separate block lists entries unique
+# overall sort, make block list entries unique
 #
-if [ "${mem_ok}" = "true" ] && [ -n "${adb_revsrclist}" ]
+if [ "${rev_done}" = "true" ] && [ "${mem_ok}" = "true" ]
 then
     f_log "remove duplicates in separate block lists"
-
-    # generate a unique overall block list
-    #
-    sort -u "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}"* > "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall"
-
-    # loop through all separate lists, ordered by size (ascending)
-    #
     for list in $(ls -ASr "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}"*)
     do
-        # check overall block list vs. separate block list,
-        # write all duplicate entries to separate list
-        #
         list="${list/*./}"
-        sort "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall" "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}" | uniq -d > "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.${list}"
-        mv -f "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.${list}" "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}"
-
-        # write all unique entries back to overall block list
-        #
-        sort "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall" "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}" | uniq -u > "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.overall"
-        mv -f "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.overall" "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall"
+        if [ -s "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall" ]
+        then
+            sort "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall" "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall" "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}" | uniq -u > "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.blocklist"
+            cat "${adb_tmpdir}/tmp.blocklist" > "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}"
+        fi
+        cat "${adb_dnsdir}/${adb_dnsprefix}.${list}" >> "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall"
     done
-    rm -f "${adb_tmpdir}/blocklist.overall"
 fi
 
-# restart & check dnsmasq with newly generated set of block lists
+# restart & check dnsmasq with generated set of block lists
 #
-if [ -n "${adb_revsrclist}" ] || [ -n "${mv_done}" ] || [ "${rm_done}" = "true" ]
+if [ "${rev_done}" = "true" ] || [ "${rm_done}" = "true" ] || [ -n "${mv_done}" ]
 then
     "${adb_uci}" -q delete "adblock.global.adb_dnstoggle"
     /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart
     sleep 1
     check="$(pgrep -f "dnsmasq")"
     if [ -n "${check}" ]
-    then
-        dns_ok="true"
-    else
-        f_log "dnsmasq restart failed, retry without newly generated block lists"
-        rm_done="$(find "${adb_dnsdir}" -maxdepth 1 -type f \( ${adb_revsrclist} \) -print -exec rm -f "{}" \;)"
-        if [ -n "${rm_done}" ]
-        then
-            /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart
-            sleep 1
-            check="$(pgrep -f "dnsmasq")"
-            if [ -n "${check}" ]
-            then
-                dns_ok="true"
-            fi
-        fi
-    fi
-    if [ "${dns_ok}" = "true" ]
     then
         f_cntconfig
         f_log "block lists with overall ${adb_count} domains loaded"
     else
+        f_rmdns
+        sleep 1
+        check="$(pgrep -f "dnsmasq")"
+        if [ -n "${check}" ]
+        then
+            f_log "dnsmasq restart without block lists succeeded, please check your configuration"
+        else
+            f_log "dnsmasq restart without block lists failed, please check your configuration"
+        fi
         rc=100
-        f_log "dnsmasq restart finally failed, please check 'logread' output"
         f_exit
     fi
 else