diff --git a/projects/packages/waf/changelog/fix-waf-autoloaded-runner-class-handling b/projects/packages/waf/changelog/fix-waf-autoloaded-runner-class-handling
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..d8d7bc0000aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/packages/waf/changelog/fix-waf-autoloaded-runner-class-handling
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: patch
+Type: fixed
+
+Improve backwards compatibility for sites running in standalone mode.
diff --git a/projects/packages/waf/src/class-compatibility.php b/projects/packages/waf/src/class-compatibility.php
index 8f3e6d5634a15..362543a391fb1 100644
--- a/projects/packages/waf/src/class-compatibility.php
+++ b/projects/packages/waf/src/class-compatibility.php
@@ -16,6 +16,46 @@
  */
 class Waf_Compatibility {
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns the name for the IP allow list enabled/disabled option.
+	 *
+	 * @since $$next-version$$
+	 *
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	private static function get_ip_allow_list_enabled_option_name() {
+		/**
+		 * Patch: bootstrap script generated prior to 0.17.0 may have autoloaded Waf_Rules_Manager class during standalone mode execution.
+		 *
+		 * @see peb6dq-2HL-p2
+		 */
+		if ( ! defined( 'Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_ALLOW_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME' ) ) {
+			return 'jetpack_waf_ip_allow_list_enabled';
+		}
+
+		return Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_ALLOW_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the name for the IP block list enabled/disabled option.
+	 *
+	 * @since $$next-version$$
+	 *
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	private static function get_ip_block_list_enabled_option_name() {
+		/**
+		 * Patch: bootstrap script generated prior to 0.17.0 may have autoloaded Waf_Rules_Manager class during standalone mode execution.
+		 *
+		 * @see peb6dq-2HL-p2
+		 */
+		if ( ! defined( 'Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_BLOCK_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME' ) ) {
+			return 'jetpack_waf_ip_block_list_enabled';
+		}
+
+		return Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_BLOCK_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Add compatibilty hooks
 	 *
@@ -28,8 +68,8 @@ public static function add_compatibility_hooks() {
 		add_filter( 'default_option_' . Waf_Initializer::NEEDS_UPDATE_OPTION_NAME, __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_needs_update', 10, 3 );
 		add_filter( 'default_option_' . Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_ALLOW_LIST_OPTION_NAME, __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_ip_allow_list', 10, 3 );
 		add_filter( 'option_' . Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_ALLOW_LIST_OPTION_NAME, __CLASS__ . '::filter_option_waf_ip_allow_list', 10, 1 );
-		add_filter( 'default_option_' . Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_ALLOW_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME, __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_ip_allow_list_enabled', 10, 3 );
-		add_filter( 'default_option_' . Waf_Rules_Manager::IP_BLOCK_LIST_ENABLED_OPTION_NAME, __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_ip_block_list_enabled', 10, 3 );
+		add_filter( 'default_option_' . self::get_ip_allow_list_enabled_option_name(), __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_ip_allow_list_enabled', 10, 3 );
+		add_filter( 'default_option_' . self::get_ip_block_list_enabled_option_name(), __CLASS__ . '::default_option_waf_ip_block_list_enabled', 10, 3 );
 	}
 
 	/**