diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 502fbf1d4..52484022c 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -2940,6 +2940,9 @@ int unit_remove_drop_in(Unit *u, bool runtime, const char *name) {
         assert(u);
 
         r = drop_in_file(u, runtime, name, &p, &q);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
+
         if (unlink(q) < 0)
                 r = -errno;
         else