diff --git a/units/systemd-journal-catalog-update.service.in b/units/systemd-journal-catalog-update.service.in
index 6370dd478f..276f052b1a 100644
--- a/units/systemd-journal-catalog-update.service.in
+++ b/units/systemd-journal-catalog-update.service.in
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ DefaultDependencies=no
 Conflicts=shutdown.target
 After=local-fs.target
 Before=sysinit.target shutdown.target systemd-update-done.service
-ConditionNeedsUpdate=/etc
+ConditionNeedsUpdate=/var
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot