diff --git a/src/core/dbus-util.c b/src/core/dbus-util.c
index 461f6aafb2..e891cef1ef 100644
--- a/src/core/dbus-util.c
+++ b/src/core/dbus-util.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ int bus_property_get_triggered_unit(
         return sd_bus_message_append(reply, "s", trigger ? trigger->id : NULL);
 }
 
-BUS_DEFINE_SET_TRANSIENT(mode_t, "u", uint32_t, mode_t, "%040o");
+BUS_DEFINE_SET_TRANSIENT(mode_t, "u", uint32_t, mode_t, "%04o");
 BUS_DEFINE_SET_TRANSIENT(unsigned, "u", uint32_t, unsigned, "%" PRIu32);
 
 static inline bool valid_user_group_name_or_id_relaxed(const char *u) {