dbus rc script does not support a dynamic /var, specifically the creation of the /var/run/dbus directory. This results in dbus not starting if either /var or /var/run is mounted from an mfs volume where /var/run/dbus created during port install is no longer present. Fix: I altered the rc script to create and delete the /var/run/dbus directory on start and stop commands. How-To-Repeat: /var/run/dbus directory is not recreated in the presence of a dynamic /var or /var/run, in my case when mounting /var from mfs.
Responsible Changed From-To: freebsd-ports-bugs->gnome Over to maintainer
State Changed From-To: open->closed Fixed in a slightly different way in dbus-0.61_4.