diff --git a/src/core/path.c b/src/core/path.c
index 8ffec72ede..4f4e7100cf 100644
--- a/src/core/path.c
+++ b/src/core/path.c
@@ -753,6 +753,20 @@ static void path_trigger_notify(Unit *u, Unit *other) {
         /* Filter out invocations with bogus state */
         assert(UNIT_IS_LOAD_COMPLETE(other->load_state));
 
+        /* Don't propagate state changes from the triggered unit if we are already down */
+        if (!IN_SET(p->state, PATH_WAITING, PATH_RUNNING))
+                return;
+
+        /* Propagate start limit hit state */
+        if (other->start_limit_hit) {
+                path_enter_dead(p, PATH_FAILURE_UNIT_START_LIMIT_HIT);
+                return;
+        }
+
+        /* Don't propagate anything if there's still a job queued */
+        if (other->job)
+                return;
+
         if (p->state == PATH_RUNNING &&
             UNIT_IS_INACTIVE_OR_FAILED(unit_active_state(other))) {
                 log_unit_debug(UNIT(p), "Got notified about unit deactivation.");
@@ -789,6 +803,7 @@ static const char* const path_result_table[_PATH_RESULT_MAX] = {
         [PATH_SUCCESS] = "success",
         [PATH_FAILURE_RESOURCES] = "resources",
         [PATH_FAILURE_START_LIMIT_HIT] = "start-limit-hit",
+        [PATH_FAILURE_UNIT_START_LIMIT_HIT] = "unit-start-limit-hit",
 };
 
 DEFINE_STRING_TABLE_LOOKUP(path_result, PathResult);
diff --git a/src/core/path.h b/src/core/path.h
index 9e2836535a..4043650fe0 100644
--- a/src/core/path.h
+++ b/src/core/path.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ typedef enum PathResult {
         PATH_SUCCESS,
         PATH_FAILURE_RESOURCES,
         PATH_FAILURE_START_LIMIT_HIT,
+        PATH_FAILURE_UNIT_START_LIMIT_HIT,
         _PATH_RESULT_MAX,
         _PATH_RESULT_INVALID = -1
 } PathResult;