diff --git a/src/journal/journalctl.c b/src/journal/journalctl.c
index 9bd2d9a150..fac4eb044a 100644
--- a/src/journal/journalctl.c
+++ b/src/journal/journalctl.c
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ static enum {
         ACTION_SYNC,
         ACTION_ROTATE,
         ACTION_VACUUM,
+        ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM,
         ACTION_LIST_FIELDS,
         ACTION_LIST_FIELD_NAMES,
 } arg_action = ACTION_SHOW;
@@ -687,7 +688,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return r;
                         }
 
-                        arg_action = ACTION_VACUUM;
+                        arg_action = arg_action == ACTION_ROTATE ? ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM : ACTION_VACUUM;
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_VACUUM_FILES:
@@ -697,7 +698,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return r;
                         }
 
-                        arg_action = ACTION_VACUUM;
+                        arg_action = arg_action == ACTION_ROTATE ? ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM : ACTION_VACUUM;
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_VACUUM_TIME:
@@ -707,7 +708,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return r;
                         }
 
-                        arg_action = ACTION_VACUUM;
+                        arg_action = arg_action == ACTION_ROTATE ? ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM : ACTION_VACUUM;
                         break;
 
 #if HAVE_GCRYPT
@@ -896,7 +897,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_ROTATE:
-                        arg_action = ACTION_ROTATE;
+                        arg_action = arg_action == ACTION_VACUUM ? ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM : ACTION_ROTATE;
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_SYNC:
@@ -2120,6 +2121,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         case ACTION_DISK_USAGE:
         case ACTION_LIST_BOOTS:
         case ACTION_VACUUM:
+        case ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM:
         case ACTION_LIST_FIELDS:
         case ACTION_LIST_FIELD_NAMES:
                 /* These ones require access to the journal files, continue below. */
@@ -2237,6 +2239,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                 r = list_boots(j);
                 goto finish;
 
+        case ACTION_ROTATE_AND_VACUUM:
+
+                r = rotate();
+                if (r < 0)
+                        goto finish;
+
+                _fallthrough_;
+
         case ACTION_VACUUM: {
                 Directory *d;
                 Iterator i;