diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index 84adb9c666..cc9a17a2fd 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -759,9 +759,11 @@ int manager_new(UnitFileScope scope, unsigned test_run_flags, Manager **_m) {
         if (r < 0)
                 goto fail;
 
-        r = manager_setup_cgroup(m);
-        if (r < 0)
-                goto fail;
+        if (test_run_flags == 0) {
+                r = manager_setup_cgroup(m);
+                if (r < 0)
+                        goto fail;
+        }
 
         r = manager_setup_time_change(m);
         if (r < 0)