diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index ff6bac576d..1feb522655 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -4136,7 +4136,7 @@ int unit_kill(
                                                         "Failed to send signal SIG%s to auxiliary processes on client request: %m",
                                                         signal_to_string(signo)));
                         }
-                        killed = killed || r >= 0;
+                        killed = killed || r > 0;
                 }
         }