diff --git a/src/socket.c b/src/socket.c
index acd49a504..075b51966 100644
--- a/src/socket.c
+++ b/src/socket.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ static int socket_load(Unit *u) {
         if (u->meta.load_state == UNIT_LOADED) {
 
                 if (have_non_accept_socket(s)) {
-                        if ((r = unit_load_related_unit(u, ".service", (Unit**) &s->service)))
+                        if ((r = unit_load_related_unit(u, ".service", (Unit**) &s->service)) < 0)
                                 return r;
 
                         if ((r = unit_add_dependency(u, UNIT_BEFORE, UNIT(s->service), true)) < 0)