diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 7ea0e8adc9..be92d97500 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -3232,8 +3232,6 @@ static int get_name_owner_handler(sd_bus_message *message, void *userdata, sd_bu
                 return 0;
         }
 
-        new_owner = empty_to_null(new_owner);
-
         if (UNIT_VTABLE(u)->bus_name_owner_change)
                 UNIT_VTABLE(u)->bus_name_owner_change(u, NULL, new_owner);