diff --git a/src/network/networkd-link.c b/src/network/networkd-link.c
index 7f692d1f9b..f1a2695e83 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-link.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-link.c
@@ -325,11 +325,15 @@ static int set_hostname(sd_bus *bus, const char *hostname) {
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *m = NULL;
         int r = 0;
 
-        assert(bus);
         assert(hostname);
 
         log_debug("Setting transient hostname: '%s'", hostname);
 
+        if (!bus) { /* TODO: replace by assert when we can rely on kdbus */
+                log_info("Not connected to system bus, ignoring transient hostname.");
+                return 0;
+        }
+
         r = sd_bus_message_new_method_call(
                         bus,
                         "org.freedesktop.hostname1",
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-manager.c b/src/network/networkd-manager.c
index 8eaf101df3..c630ed7ed9 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-manager.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-manager.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ int manager_new(Manager **ret) {
                 return r;
 
         r = sd_bus_default_system(&m->bus);
-        if (r < 0)
+        if (r < 0 && r != -ENOENT) /* TODO: drop when we can rely on kdbus */
                 return r;
 
         m->udev = udev_new();
@@ -288,6 +288,11 @@ int manager_rtnl_listen(Manager *m) {
 int manager_bus_listen(Manager *m) {
         int r;
 
+        assert(m->event);
+
+        if (!m->bus) /* TODO: drop when we can rely on kdbus */
+                return 0;
+
         r = sd_bus_attach_event(m->bus, m->event, 0);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
diff --git a/units/systemd-networkd.service.in b/units/systemd-networkd.service.in
index 850193b53c..835c07ddcd 100644
--- a/units/systemd-networkd.service.in
+++ b/units/systemd-networkd.service.in
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 Description=Network Service
 Documentation=man:systemd-networkd.service(8)
 DefaultDependencies=no
-After=dbus.socket
+After=dbus.service
 Before=network.target
 Wants=network.target
 ConditionCapability=CAP_NET_ADMIN