diff --git a/src/home/homed-home.c b/src/home/homed-home.c
index e1379f51f5..09e86f37f3 100644
--- a/src/home/homed-home.c
+++ b/src/home/homed-home.c
@@ -2756,7 +2756,9 @@ int home_create_fifo(Home *h, bool please_suspend) {
 
                 (void) sd_event_source_set_description(*ss, "acquire-ref");
 
-                r = sd_event_source_set_priority(*ss, SD_EVENT_PRIORITY_IDLE-1);
+                /* We need to notice dropped refs before we process new bus requests (which
+                 * might try to obtain new refs) */
+                r = sd_event_source_set_priority(*ss, SD_EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL-10);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
 
diff --git a/src/home/homed-manager.c b/src/home/homed-manager.c
index 0653eeef78..d4eaf1821b 100644
--- a/src/home/homed-manager.c
+++ b/src/home/homed-manager.c
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ static int manager_connect_bus(Manager *m) {
         if (r < 0)
                 return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to request name: %m");
 
-        r = sd_bus_attach_event(m->bus, m->event, 0);
+        r = sd_bus_attach_event(m->bus, m->event, SD_EVENT_PRIORITY_NORMAL);
         if (r < 0)
                 return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to attach bus to event loop: %m");