diff --git a/src/basic/terminal-util.c b/src/basic/terminal-util.c
index 01c2bd3750..91ef5d7c07 100644
--- a/src/basic/terminal-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/terminal-util.c
@@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ int resolve_dev_console(char **ret) {
          * is a sign for container setups). */
 
         _cleanup_free_ char *chased = NULL;
-        r = chase("/dev/console", /* root= */ NULL, /* flags= */ 0,  &chased, /* ret_fd= */ NULL);
+        r = chase("/dev/console", /* root= */ NULL, /* flags= */ 0, &chased, /* ret_fd= */ NULL);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
         if (!path_equal(chased, "/dev/console")) {
@@ -1134,6 +1134,8 @@ int resolve_dev_console(char **ret) {
         r = read_one_line_file("/sys/class/tty/console/active", &active);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
+        if (r == 0)
+                return -ENXIO;
 
         /* If multiple log outputs are configured the last one is what /dev/console points to */
         const char *tty = strrchr(active, ' ');