diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-device/device-monitor.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-device/device-monitor.c
index 05e7ec07159..dd312e91ceb 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-device/device-monitor.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-device/device-monitor.c
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ _public_ int sd_device_monitor_attach_event(sd_device_monitor *m, sd_event *even
         else {
                 r = sd_event_default(&m->event);
                 if (r < 0)
-                        return 0;
+                        return r;
         }
 
         return 0;