diff --git a/src/locale/localed-util.c b/src/locale/localed-util.c
index 2d5d76e741..54e32e2e1c 100644
--- a/src/locale/localed-util.c
+++ b/src/locale/localed-util.c
@@ -325,10 +325,6 @@ int x11_read_data(Context *c, sd_bus_message *m) {
 
         assert(c);
 
-        r = vconsole_read_data(c, m);
-        if (r < 0)
-                return r;
-
         /* Do not try to re-read the file within single bus operation. */
         if (m) {
                 if (m == c->x11_cache)
diff --git a/src/locale/localed.c b/src/locale/localed.c
index b8031300f1..7355b2d0e2 100644
--- a/src/locale/localed.c
+++ b/src/locale/localed.c
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ static int property_get_xkb(
 
         assert(property);
 
+        r = vconsole_read_data(c, reply);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
+
         r = x11_read_data(c, reply);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
@@ -613,6 +617,12 @@ static int method_set_x11_keyboard(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_err
                 return sd_bus_error_set(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS, "Specified keymap cannot be compiled, refusing as invalid.");
         }
 
+        r = vconsole_read_data(c, m);
+        if (r < 0) {
+                log_error_errno(r, "Failed to read virtual console keymap data: %m");
+                return sd_bus_error_set_errnof(error, r, "Failed to read virtual console keymap data: %m");
+        }
+
         r = x11_read_data(c, m);
         if (r < 0) {
                 log_error_errno(r, "Failed to read x11 keyboard layout data: %m");