diff --git a/src/network/networkd-queue.c b/src/network/networkd-queue.c
index f5ad748397..7b5060a049 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-queue.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-queue.c
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ int remove_request_add(
          * MANAGER_TERMINATING or MANAGER_RESTARTING. When the manager is in MANAGER_STOPPED, we cannot
          * queue new remove requests anymore with the same reason explained in request_new(). */
         if (manager->state == MANAGER_STOPPED)
-                return 0;
+                return 0; /* ignored */
 
         req = new(RemoveRequest, 1);
         if (!req)
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ int remove_request_add(
         req->unref_func = unref_func;
 
         TAKE_PTR(req);
-        return 0;
+        return 1; /* queued */
 }
 
 int manager_process_remove_requests(Manager *manager) {
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-queue.h b/src/network/networkd-queue.h
index b50851ecdd..8600ffe869 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-queue.h
+++ b/src/network/networkd-queue.h
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ int remove_request_add(
                 _r = remove_request_add(manager, link, _data,           \
                                         (mfree_func_t) name##_unref,    \
                                         nl, m, handler);                \
-                if (_r >= 0)                                            \
+                if (_r > 0)                                             \
                         name##_ref(_data);                              \
                 _r;                                                     \
         })