diff --git a/src/core/path.c b/src/core/path.c
index cb75d778af..d216dcb850 100644
--- a/src/core/path.c
+++ b/src/core/path.c
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ static int path_serialize(Unit *u, FILE *f, FDSet *fds) {
                 (void) serialize_item_format(f, "path-spec", "%s %i %s",
                                              path_type_to_string(s->type),
                                              s->previous_exists,
-                                             s->path);
+                                             escaped);
         }
 
         return 0;