diff --git a/src/journal/journalctl.c b/src/journal/journalctl.c
index 7d5b115c71..b7c378eaa9 100644
--- a/src/journal/journalctl.c
+++ b/src/journal/journalctl.c
@@ -1968,7 +1968,7 @@ static int flush_to_var(void) {
 }
 
 static int relinquish_var(void) {
-        return simple_varlink_call("--relinquish-var", "io.systemd.Journal.RelinquishVar");
+        return simple_varlink_call("--relinquish-var/--smart-relinquish-var", "io.systemd.Journal.RelinquishVar");
 }
 
 static int rotate(void) {