diff --git a/src/network/networkd-ipv4ll.c b/src/network/networkd-ipv4ll.c
index a2a76d848cb..e1dbbabf8f3 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-ipv4ll.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-ipv4ll.c
@@ -122,8 +122,10 @@ static void ipv4ll_handler(sd_ipv4ll *ll, int event, void *userdata) {
                         }
 
                         r = sd_ipv4ll_restart(ll);
-                        if (r < 0)
+                        if (r < 0) {
                                 log_link_warning_errno(link, r, "Could not acquire IPv4 link-local address: %m");
+                                link_enter_failed(link);
+                        }
                         break;
                 case SD_IPV4LL_EVENT_BIND:
                         r = ipv4ll_address_claimed(ll, link);