diff --git a/src/core/dbus-manager.c b/src/core/dbus-manager.c
index 20e1ffe26f..047a7b4424 100644
--- a/src/core/dbus-manager.c
+++ b/src/core/dbus-manager.c
@@ -2200,6 +2200,8 @@ static int method_get_default_target(sd_bus_message *message, void *userdata, sd
                 return r;
 
         r = unit_file_get_default(m->unit_file_scope, NULL, &default_target);
+        if (r == -ERFKILL)
+                sd_bus_error_setf(error, BUS_ERROR_UNIT_MASKED, "Unit file is masked.");
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl-set-default.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl-set-default.c
index c2dbf97649..7ddba17272 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl-set-default.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl-set-default.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ static int determine_default(char **ret_name) {
 
         if (install_client_side()) {
                 r = unit_file_get_default(arg_scope, arg_root, ret_name);
+                if (r == -ERFKILL)
+                        return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to get default target: Unit file is masked.");
                 if (r < 0)
                         return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to get default target: %m");
                 return 0;