diff --git a/src/udev/udevd.c b/src/udev/udevd.c
index 63f41210dd..bf6d347fb6 100644
--- a/src/udev/udevd.c
+++ b/src/udev/udevd.c
@@ -2013,7 +2013,7 @@ static int main_loop(Manager *manager) {
         udev_builtin_init();
 
         r = udev_rules_load(&manager->rules, arg_resolve_name_timing);
-        if (!manager->rules)
+        if (r < 0)
                 return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to read udev rules: %m");
 
         r = udev_rules_apply_static_dev_perms(manager->rules);