diff --git a/src/journal/journalctl.c b/src/journal/journalctl.c
index 58ca8071fc..34017484be 100644
--- a/src/journal/journalctl.c
+++ b/src/journal/journalctl.c
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         }
 
         for (;;) {
-                while (arg_lines == 0 || n_shown < arg_lines) {
+                while (arg_lines == 0 || arg_follow || n_shown < arg_lines) {
                         int flags;
 
                         if (need_seek) {