diff --git a/src/core/cgroup.c b/src/core/cgroup.c
index c6667b39c7..e9cb0d35c9 100644
--- a/src/core/cgroup.c
+++ b/src/core/cgroup.c
@@ -1533,6 +1533,7 @@ static int unit_realize_cgroup_now(Unit *u, ManagerState state) {
 }
 
 static void unit_add_to_cgroup_queue(Unit *u) {
+        assert(u);
 
         if (u->in_cgroup_queue)
                 return;
diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 5ed5764455..68295d6445 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -3205,6 +3205,11 @@ int unit_deserialize(Unit *u, FILE *f, FDSet *fds) {
         if (!dual_timestamp_is_set(&u->state_change_timestamp))
                 dual_timestamp_get(&u->state_change_timestamp);
 
+        /* Let's make sure that everything that is deserialized also gets any potential new cgroup settings applied
+         * after we are done. For that we invalidate anything already realized, so that we can realize it again. */
+        unit_invalidate_cgroup(u, _CGROUP_MASK_ALL);
+        unit_invalidate_cgroup_bpf(u);
+
         return 0;
 }