diff --git a/src/sysext/sysext.c b/src/sysext/sysext.c
index ad8785cd46..a1397d7d05 100644
--- a/src/sysext/sysext.c
+++ b/src/sysext/sysext.c
@@ -1788,7 +1788,7 @@ static int merge(ImageClass image_class,
         if (r == 123) /* exit code 123 means: didn't do anything */
                 return 0;
         if (r > 0)
-                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(ENXIO), "Failed to merge hierarchies");
+                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EPROTO), "Failed to merge hierarchies");
 
         r = need_reload(image_class, hierarchies, no_reload);
         if (r < 0)