diff --git a/src/timesync/timesyncd-manager.c b/src/timesync/timesyncd-manager.c
index a24c821bdc..e0c92946d1 100644
--- a/src/timesync/timesyncd-manager.c
+++ b/src/timesync/timesyncd-manager.c
@@ -1092,6 +1092,10 @@ static int manager_network_monitor_listen(Manager *m) {
         assert(m);
 
         r = sd_network_monitor_new(&m->network_monitor, NULL);
+        if (r == -ENOENT) {
+                log_info("Systemd does not appear to be running, not listening for systmed-networkd events.");
+                return 0;
+        }
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;