diff --git a/src/core/socket.c b/src/core/socket.c
index 94eb2e7a5d..c58a7f03ee 100644
--- a/src/core/socket.c
+++ b/src/core/socket.c
@@ -1343,6 +1343,8 @@ static int socket_spawn(Socket *s, ExecCommand *c, pid_t *_pid) {
                        NULL,
                        s->exec_runtime,
                        &pid);
+        if (r < 0)
+                goto fail;
 
         r = unit_watch_pid(UNIT(s), pid);
         if (r < 0)