diff --git a/src/network/networkd-address.c b/src/network/networkd-address.c
index b09d75e615..0349ca6f93 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-address.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-address.c
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ static int address_remove_handler(sd_netlink *rtnl, sd_netlink_message *m, Link
         r = sd_netlink_message_get_errno(m);
         if (r < 0 && r != -EADDRNOTAVAIL)
                 log_link_message_warning_errno(link, m, r, "Could not drop address");
-        else
+        else if (r >= 0)
                 (void) manager_rtnl_process_address(rtnl, m, link->manager);
 
         return 1;