diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
index d673223a27..34b2969f6a 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
@@ -7823,7 +7823,8 @@ static int parse_shutdown_time_spec(const char *t, usec_t *_u) {
                 tm.tm_min = (int) minute;
                 tm.tm_sec = 0;
 
-                assert_se(s = mktime(&tm));
+                s = mktime(&tm);
+                assert(s >= 0);
 
                 *_u = (usec_t) s * USEC_PER_SEC;