diff --git a/src/core/dbus.c b/src/core/dbus.c
index c7c96a3409..04bed73b65 100644
--- a/src/core/dbus.c
+++ b/src/core/dbus.c
@@ -1204,8 +1204,9 @@ int bus_foreach_bus(
         }
 
         /* Send to API bus, but only if somebody is subscribed */
-        if (sd_bus_track_count(m->subscribed) > 0 ||
-            sd_bus_track_count(subscribed2) > 0) {
+        if (m->api_bus &&
+            (sd_bus_track_count(m->subscribed) > 0 ||
+             sd_bus_track_count(subscribed2) > 0)) {
                 r = send_message(m->api_bus, userdata);
                 if (r < 0)
                         ret = r;