diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
index 229a19d8e7..786d757e9c 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-journal/journal-file.c
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ static int journal_file_link_field(
         assert(offset > 0);
 
         if (o->object.type != OBJECT_FIELD)
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return -EBADMSG;
 
         m = le64toh(READ_NOW(f->header->field_hash_table_size)) / sizeof(HashItem);
         if (m <= 0)
@@ -1449,7 +1449,7 @@ static int journal_file_link_data(
         assert(offset > 0);
 
         if (o->object.type != OBJECT_DATA)
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return -EBADMSG;
 
         m = le64toh(READ_NOW(f->header->data_hash_table_size)) / sizeof(HashItem);
         if (m <= 0)
@@ -2233,7 +2233,7 @@ static int journal_file_link_entry(
         assert(offset > 0);
 
         if (o->object.type != OBJECT_ENTRY)
-                return -EINVAL;
+                return -EBADMSG;
 
         __atomic_thread_fence(__ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);