diff --git a/src/basic/process-util.c b/src/basic/process-util.c
index 003aecbc49..9b6c4c31f7 100644
--- a/src/basic/process-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/process-util.c
@@ -52,13 +52,17 @@
 #define COMM_MAX_LEN 128
 
 static int get_process_state(pid_t pid) {
+        _cleanup_free_ char *line = NULL;
         const char *p;
         char state;
         int r;
-        _cleanup_free_ char *line = NULL;
 
         assert(pid >= 0);
 
+        /* Shortcut: if we are enquired about our own state, we are obviously running */
+        if (pid == 0 || pid == getpid_cached())
+                return (unsigned char) 'R';
+
         p = procfs_file_alloca(pid, "stat");
 
         r = read_one_line_file(p, &line);