package iptables-persistent 0.5.3ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[swoody]

At the end of installing iptables-persistent I received this error:

Setting up iptables-persistent (0.5.3ubuntu1) ...
update-rc.d: error: start|stop arguments not terminated by "."
usage: update-rc.d [-n] [-f] <basename> remove
       update-rc.d [-n] <basename> defaults [NN | SS KK]
       update-rc.d [-n] <basename> start|stop NN runlvl [runlvl] [...] .
       update-rc.d [-n] <basename> disable|enable [S|2|3|4|5]
  -n: not really
  -f: force

The disable|enable API is not stable and might change in the future.
dpkg: error processing iptables-persistent (--configure):
 subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 iptables-persistent
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: iptables-persistent 0.5.3ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-17.27-generic 3.2.6
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.93-0ubuntu2
AptOrdering:
 iptables-persistent: Install
 iptables-persistent: Configure
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Mar 2 03:25:42 2012
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Beta amd64 (20120301)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: iptables-persistent
Title: package iptables-persistent 0.5.3ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Bug Reporter 11 (bugreporter11)]

Kubuntu 12.04 has this issue too. It occurs both with and without saving existing rules during installation.