diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index 9368a1dfa1..2946f58066 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -1728,9 +1728,10 @@ static void manager_ready(Manager *m) {
         manager_catchup(m);
 
         /* Create a file which will indicate when the manager started loading units the last time. */
-        (void) touch_file("/run/systemd/systemd-units-load", false,
-                m->timestamps[MANAGER_TIMESTAMP_UNITS_LOAD].realtime ?: now(CLOCK_REALTIME),
-                UID_INVALID, GID_INVALID, 0444);
+        if (MANAGER_IS_SYSTEM(m))
+                (void) touch_file("/run/systemd/systemd-units-load", false,
+                        m->timestamps[MANAGER_TIMESTAMP_UNITS_LOAD].realtime ?: now(CLOCK_REALTIME),
+                        UID_INVALID, GID_INVALID, 0444);
 
         m->honor_device_enumeration = true;
 }