diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 2205ad0e2b..8684471d57 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -1195,6 +1195,8 @@ int unit_merge(Unit *u, Unit *other) {
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
+        UnitLoadState saved_load_state = other->load_state;
+
         other->load_state = UNIT_MERGED;
         other->merged_into = u;
 
@@ -1203,7 +1205,7 @@ int unit_merge(Unit *u, Unit *other) {
 
         /* If there is still some data attached to the other node, we
          * don't need it anymore, and can free it. */
-        if (other->load_state != UNIT_STUB)
+        if (saved_load_state != UNIT_STUB)
                 if (UNIT_VTABLE(other)->done)
                         UNIT_VTABLE(other)->done(other);