diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/sd-bus.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/sd-bus.c
index ac611d2975..5b624d51ed 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/sd-bus.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/sd-bus.c
@@ -3246,8 +3246,6 @@ static int add_match_callback(
                 bus->current_slot = match_slot->match_callback.install_slot;
                 bus->current_handler = add_match_callback;
                 bus->current_userdata = userdata;
-
-                match_slot->match_callback.install_slot = sd_bus_slot_unref(match_slot->match_callback.install_slot);
         } else {
                 if (failed) /* Generic failure handling: destroy the connection */
                         bus_enter_closing(sd_bus_message_get_bus(m));
@@ -3255,6 +3253,9 @@ static int add_match_callback(
                 r = 1;
         }
 
+        /* We don't need the install method reply slot anymore, let's free it */
+        match_slot->match_callback.install_slot = sd_bus_slot_unref(match_slot->match_callback.install_slot);
+
         if (failed && match_slot->floating)
                 bus_slot_disconnect(match_slot, true);