diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index 87b116dd03..08d9188385 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -2375,6 +2375,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         r = manager_startup(m, arg_serialization, fds);
         if (r < 0) {
                 log_error_errno(r, "Failed to fully start up daemon: %m");
+                error_message = "Failed to start up manager";
                 goto finish;
         }