diff --git a/src/unit.c b/src/unit.c
index d5ed5e1421..001d7659c4 100644
--- a/src/unit.c
+++ b/src/unit.c
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ void unit_notify(Unit *u, UnitActiveState os, UnitActiveState ns) {
          * something is already activated. */
 
         if (unexpected && u->meta.manager->n_deserializing <= 0) {
-                if (UNIT_IS_INACTIVE_OR_DEACTIVATING(os) && UNIT_IS_ACTIVE_OR_ACTIVATING(ns))
+                if (UNIT_IS_INACTIVE_OR_FAILED(os) && UNIT_IS_ACTIVE_OR_ACTIVATING(ns))
                         retroactively_start_dependencies(u);
                 else if (UNIT_IS_ACTIVE_OR_ACTIVATING(os) && UNIT_IS_INACTIVE_OR_DEACTIVATING(ns))
                         retroactively_stop_dependencies(u);