diff --git a/man/systemd-sysext.xml b/man/systemd-sysext.xml
index 8da6bd26ad..f4dd150a53 100644
--- a/man/systemd-sysext.xml
+++ b/man/systemd-sysext.xml
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@
     accessed.</para>
 
     <para>Note that there is no concept of enabling/disabling installed system extension images: all
-    installed extension images are automatically activated at boot. However, you can place a symlink
-    to <filename>/dev/null</filename> in <filename>/etc/extensions/</filename> to "mask" an image with
-    the same name in a folder with lower precedence.</para>
+    installed extension images are automatically activated at boot. However, you can place an empty directory
+    named like the extension (no <filename>.raw</filename>) in <filename>/etc/extensions/</filename> to "mask"
+    an extension with the same name in a system folder with lower precedence.</para>
 
     <para>A simple mechanism for version compatibility is enforced: a system extension image must carry a
     <filename>/usr/lib/extension-release.d/extension-release.<replaceable>$name</replaceable></filename>
diff --git a/test/units/testsuite-50.sh b/test/units/testsuite-50.sh
index ae6dd0b3d7..0c70459486 100755
--- a/test/units/testsuite-50.sh
+++ b/test/units/testsuite-50.sh
@@ -356,6 +356,19 @@ systemctl is-active testservice-50f.service
 systemd-dissect --umount "${image_dir}/app0"
 systemd-dissect --umount "${image_dir}/app1"
 
+# Test that an extension consisting of an empty directory under /etc/extensions/ takes precedence
+mkdir -p /var/lib/extensions/
+ln -s /usr/share/app-nodistro.raw /var/lib/extensions/app-nodistro.raw
+systemd-sysext merge
+grep -q -F "MARKER=1" /usr/lib/systemd/system/some_file
+systemd-sysext unmerge
+mkdir -p /etc/extensions/app-nodistro
+systemd-sysext merge
+test ! -e /usr/lib/systemd/system/some_file
+systemd-sysext unmerge
+rmdir /etc/extensions/app-nodistro
+rm /var/lib/extensions/app-nodistro.raw
+
 echo OK >/testok
 
 exit 0