diff --git a/man/systemd.network.xml b/man/systemd.network.xml
index 85e4ae09c7..c28cbed74f 100644
--- a/man/systemd.network.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.network.xml
@@ -2957,7 +2957,8 @@ IPv6Token=prefixstable:2002:da8:1::</programlisting></para>
           <term><varname>SamplePoint=</varname></term>
           <listitem>
             <para>Optional sample point in percent with one decimal (e.g. <literal>75%</literal>,
-            <literal>87.5%</literal>) or permille (e.g. <literal>875‰</literal>).</para>
+            <literal>87.5%</literal>) or permille (e.g. <literal>875‰</literal>). This will be ignored when
+            <varname>BitRate=</varname> is unspecified.</para>
           </listitem>
         </varlistentry>
         <varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-can.c b/src/network/networkd-can.c
index 105a2d6407..c4c71b8285 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-can.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-can.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ int can_set_netlink_message(Link *link, sd_netlink_message *m) {
         if (r < 0)
                 return log_link_debug_errno(link, r, "Could not open IFLA_INFO_DATA container: %m");
 
-        if (link->network->can_bitrate > 0 || link->network->can_sample_point > 0) {
+        if (link->network->can_bitrate > 0) {
                 struct can_bittiming bt = {
                         .bitrate = link->network->can_bitrate,
                         .sample_point = link->network->can_sample_point,
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ int can_set_netlink_message(Link *link, sd_netlink_message *m) {
                         return log_link_debug_errno(link, r, "Could not append IFLA_CAN_BITTIMING attribute: %m");
         }
 
-        if (link->network->can_data_bitrate > 0 || link->network->can_data_sample_point > 0) {
+        if (link->network->can_data_bitrate > 0) {
                 struct can_bittiming bt = {
                         .bitrate = link->network->can_data_bitrate,
                         .sample_point = link->network->can_data_sample_point,