diff --git a/src/run/run.c b/src/run/run.c
index 2e37a0a2f6..168cd2f4e6 100644
--- a/src/run/run.c
+++ b/src/run/run.c
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ static int parse_argv_sudo_mode(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
         strv_free_and_replace(arg_cmdline, l);
 
-        if (!arg_slice) {
+        if (!custom_slice) {
                 arg_slice = strdup(SPECIAL_USER_SLICE);
                 if (!arg_slice)
                         return log_oom();