diff --git a/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c b/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
index bb1c77ad26..723a44cb6d 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
@@ -343,8 +343,6 @@ static int routing_policy_rule_add_internal(Manager *m, Set **rules, const Routi
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        rule->manager = m;
-
         r = routing_policy_rule_copy(rule, in);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
@@ -357,6 +355,8 @@ static int routing_policy_rule_add_internal(Manager *m, Set **rules, const Routi
         if (r == 0)
                 return -EEXIST;
 
+        rule->manager = m;
+
         if (ret)
                 *ret = rule;