diff --git a/src/basic/tmpfile-util.c b/src/basic/tmpfile-util.c
index e77af7659f..5100d6a5ff 100644
--- a/src/basic/tmpfile-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/tmpfile-util.c
@@ -58,13 +58,11 @@ int fopen_temporary(const char *path, FILE **_f, char **_temp_path) {
 
 /* This is much like mkostemp() but is subject to umask(). */
 int mkostemp_safe(char *pattern) {
-        _cleanup_umask_ mode_t u = 0;
+        _unused_ _cleanup_umask_ mode_t u = umask(0077);
         int fd;
 
         assert(pattern);
 
-        u = umask(077);
-
         fd = mkostemp(pattern, O_CLOEXEC);
         if (fd < 0)
                 return -errno;