diff --git a/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c b/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
index d52af22d73..bc66299142 100644
--- a/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
+++ b/src/tmpfiles/tmpfiles.c
@@ -1570,7 +1570,7 @@ static int create_item(Item *i) {
 
                 _fallthrough_;
         case EMPTY_DIRECTORY:
-                r = path_set_perms(i, i->path);
+                r = glob_item(i, path_set_perms);
                 if (q < 0)
                         return q;
                 if (r < 0)