diff --git a/src/core/dbus-unit.c b/src/core/dbus-unit.c
index 968166ee604..385ee8bdca6 100644
--- a/src/core/dbus-unit.c
+++ b/src/core/dbus-unit.c
@@ -1385,9 +1385,9 @@ static int bus_set_transient_emergency_action(
 
         system = MANAGER_IS_SYSTEM(u->manager);
         r = parse_emergency_action(s, system, &v);
-        if (v < 0)
+        if (r < 0)
                 return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS,
-                                         v == -EOPNOTSUPP ? "EmergencyAction setting invalid for manager type: %s"
+                                         r == -EOPNOTSUPP ? "EmergencyAction setting invalid for manager type: %s"
                                                           : "Invalid %s setting: %s",
                                          name, s);