diff --git a/src/analyze/analyze.c b/src/analyze/analyze.c
index d0bf01468a..fdbce7cda8 100644
--- a/src/analyze/analyze.c
+++ b/src/analyze/analyze.c
@@ -1346,7 +1346,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                  arg_user ? SYSTEMD_USER : SYSTEMD_SYSTEM,
                                  arg_man);
         else {
-                _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+                _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
 
                 r = bus_open_transport_systemd(arg_transport, arg_host, arg_user, &bus);
                 if (r < 0) {
diff --git a/src/bus-proxyd/bus-proxyd.c b/src/bus-proxyd/bus-proxyd.c
index e5713d6af9..4f24e331ec 100644
--- a/src/bus-proxyd/bus-proxyd.c
+++ b/src/bus-proxyd/bus-proxyd.c
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ static int patch_sender(sd_bus *a, sd_bus_message *m) {
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *a = NULL, *b = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *a = NULL, *b = NULL;
         sd_id128_t server_id;
         int r, in_fd, out_fd;
         bool got_hello = false;
@@ -1474,11 +1474,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         }
 
 finish:
-        sd_bus_flush(a);
-        sd_bus_flush(b);
-        sd_bus_close(a);
-        sd_bus_close(b);
-
         policy_free(&policy);
         strv_free(arg_configuration);
         free(arg_address);
diff --git a/src/cgls/cgls.c b/src/cgls/cgls.c
index 6e9bd232a9..7070503d68 100644
--- a/src/cgls/cgls.c
+++ b/src/cgls/cgls.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         int r = 0, retval = EXIT_FAILURE;
         int output_flags;
         _cleanup_free_ char *root = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
 
         log_parse_environment();
         log_open();
diff --git a/src/cgroups-agent/cgroups-agent.c b/src/cgroups-agent/cgroups-agent.c
index d1d843bda7..e581fbc9b6 100644
--- a/src/cgroups-agent/cgroups-agent.c
+++ b/src/cgroups-agent/cgroups-agent.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include "bus-util.h"
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         if (argc != 2) {
@@ -62,7 +62,5 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                 return EXIT_FAILURE;
         }
 
-        sd_bus_flush(bus);
-
         return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/src/fsck/fsck.c b/src/fsck/fsck.c
index e8596d90f8..dfe97bc260 100644
--- a/src/fsck/fsck.c
+++ b/src/fsck/fsck.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static const char *arg_repair = "-a";
 
 static void start_target(const char *target) {
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         assert(target);
diff --git a/src/hostname/hostnamectl.c b/src/hostname/hostnamectl.c
index 69da54f1f3..f8e1a811f8 100644
--- a/src/hostname/hostnamectl.c
+++ b/src/hostname/hostnamectl.c
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ static int hostnamectl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/hostname/hostnamed.c b/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
index 74d9dab073..4acdb72b12 100644
--- a/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
+++ b/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ static const sd_bus_vtable hostname_vtable[] = {
 };
 
 static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         assert(c);
@@ -673,9 +673,8 @@ static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         Context context = {};
-
         _cleanup_event_unref_ sd_event *event = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_AUTO);
diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-util.h b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-util.h
index 0a3d5dd567..af50553926 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-util.h
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-util.h
@@ -137,6 +137,14 @@ typedef struct UnitInfo {
 
 int bus_parse_unit_info(sd_bus_message *message, UnitInfo *u);
 
+static inline void sd_bus_close_unrefp(sd_bus **bus) {
+        if (*bus) {
+                sd_bus_flush(*bus);
+                sd_bus_close(*bus);
+                sd_bus_unref(*bus);
+        }
+}
+
 DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(sd_bus*, sd_bus_unref);
 DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(sd_bus_slot*, sd_bus_slot_unref);
 DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(sd_bus_message*, sd_bus_message_unref);
@@ -144,6 +152,7 @@ DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(sd_bus_creds*, sd_bus_creds_unref);
 DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(sd_bus_track*, sd_bus_track_unref);
 
 #define _cleanup_bus_unref_ _cleanup_(sd_bus_unrefp)
+#define _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ _cleanup_(sd_bus_close_unrefp)
 #define _cleanup_bus_slot_unref_ _cleanup_(sd_bus_slot_unrefp)
 #define _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ _cleanup_(sd_bus_message_unrefp)
 #define _cleanup_bus_creds_unref_ _cleanup_(sd_bus_creds_unrefp)
diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/busctl.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/busctl.c
index b6839c13e7..af71804410 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/busctl.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/busctl.c
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ static int busctl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_parse_environment();
diff --git a/src/locale/localectl.c b/src/locale/localectl.c
index 69d50076aa..2bb0d3b6be 100644
--- a/src/locale/localectl.c
+++ b/src/locale/localectl.c
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ static int localectl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char*argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/locale/localed.c b/src/locale/localed.c
index bce99b8cba..3cfc2ea4d3 100644
--- a/src/locale/localed.c
+++ b/src/locale/localed.c
@@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@ static const sd_bus_vtable locale_vtable[] = {
 };
 
 static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         assert(c);
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         Context context = {};
         _cleanup_event_unref_ sd_event *event = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_AUTO);
diff --git a/src/login/inhibit.c b/src/login/inhibit.c
index 02b6b25751..d5ea1d913c 100644
--- a/src/login/inhibit.c
+++ b/src/login/inhibit.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_parse_environment();
diff --git a/src/login/loginctl.c b/src/login/loginctl.c
index 1773276b95..fcdf6275e9 100644
--- a/src/login/loginctl.c
+++ b/src/login/loginctl.c
@@ -1295,7 +1295,7 @@ static int loginctl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/login/pam_systemd.c b/src/login/pam_systemd.c
index f522d6ec4f..0c71177deb 100644
--- a/src/login/pam_systemd.c
+++ b/src/login/pam_systemd.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ _public_ PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_open_session(
                 *seat = NULL,
                 *type = NULL, *class = NULL,
                 *class_pam = NULL, *type_pam = NULL, *cvtnr = NULL, *desktop = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int session_fd = -1, existing, r;
         bool debug = false, remote;
         struct passwd *pw;
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ _public_ PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_close_session(
                 int argc, const char **argv) {
 
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         const void *existing = NULL;
         const char *id;
         int r;
diff --git a/src/machine/machinectl.c b/src/machine/machinectl.c
index 02d5d301c0..7491d69c8b 100644
--- a/src/machine/machinectl.c
+++ b/src/machine/machinectl.c
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ static int openpt_in_namespace(pid_t pid, int flags) {
 static int login_machine(sd_bus *bus, char **args, unsigned n) {
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *reply = NULL, *reply2 = NULL, *reply3 = NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *container_bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *container_bus = NULL;
         _cleanup_close_ int master = -1;
         _cleanup_free_ char *getty = NULL;
         const char *path, *pty, *p;
@@ -989,7 +989,7 @@ static int machinectl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char*argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
index 76e86b7e05..ae09f936f5 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ static int drop_capabilities(void) {
 
 static int register_machine(pid_t pid, int local_ifindex) {
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         if (!arg_register)
@@ -1521,7 +1521,7 @@ static int register_machine(pid_t pid, int local_ifindex) {
 static int terminate_machine(pid_t pid) {
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *reply = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         const char *path;
         int r;
 
diff --git a/src/nss-mymachines/nss-mymachines.c b/src/nss-mymachines/nss-mymachines.c
index cc185b0c3d..c87f436aea 100644
--- a/src/nss-mymachines/nss-mymachines.c
+++ b/src/nss-mymachines/nss-mymachines.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ enum nss_status _nss_mymachines_gethostbyname4_r(
 
         struct gaih_addrtuple *r_tuple, *r_tuple_first = NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message* reply = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         _cleanup_free_ int *ifindices = NULL;
         _cleanup_free_ char *class = NULL;
         size_t l, ms, idx;
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ enum nss_status _nss_mymachines_gethostbyname3_r(
                 char **canonp) {
 
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message* reply = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         _cleanup_free_ char *class = NULL;
         unsigned c = 0, i = 0;
         char *r_name, *r_aliases, *r_addr, *r_addr_list;
diff --git a/src/nss-resolve/nss-resolve.c b/src/nss-resolve/nss-resolve.c
index 555800c10a..ccbc7317f6 100644
--- a/src/nss-resolve/nss-resolve.c
+++ b/src/nss-resolve/nss-resolve.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ enum nss_status _nss_resolve_gethostbyname4_r(
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *req = NULL, *reply = NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
         struct gaih_addrtuple *r_tuple, *r_tuple_first = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         const char *canonical = NULL;
         size_t l, ms, idx;
         char *r_name;
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ enum nss_status _nss_resolve_gethostbyname3_r(
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *req = NULL, *reply = NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
         char *r_name, *r_aliases, *r_addr, *r_addr_list;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         size_t l, idx, ms, alen;
         const char *canonical;
         int c, r, i = 0;
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ enum nss_status _nss_resolve_gethostbyaddr2_r(
         _cleanup_bus_message_unref_ sd_bus_message *req = NULL, *reply = NULL;
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
         char *r_name, *r_aliases, *r_addr, *r_addr_list;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         unsigned c = 0, i = 0;
         size_t ms = 0, idx;
         const char *n;
diff --git a/src/resolve-host/resolve-host.c b/src/resolve-host/resolve-host.c
index 43c8a229eb..3641923e1c 100644
--- a/src/resolve-host/resolve-host.c
+++ b/src/resolve-host/resolve-host.c
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_parse_environment();
diff --git a/src/run/run.c b/src/run/run.c
index f8f0ea2832..e3b62939c7 100644
--- a/src/run/run.c
+++ b/src/run/run.c
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ static int start_transient_scope(
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         _cleanup_bus_error_free_ sd_bus_error error = SD_BUS_ERROR_NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         _cleanup_free_ char *description = NULL, *command = NULL;
         int r;
 
diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
index daf7e31de9..540b4a64c1 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ static int get_unit_list_recursive(
                         return r;
 
                 STRV_FOREACH(i, machines) {
-                        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *container = NULL;
+                        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *container = NULL;
                         int k;
 
                         r = sd_bus_open_system_container(&container, *i);
@@ -1688,7 +1688,7 @@ static int compare_machine_info(const void *a, const void *b) {
 }
 
 static int get_machine_properties(sd_bus *bus, struct machine_info *mi) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *container = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *container = NULL;
         int r;
 
         assert(mi);
@@ -6828,7 +6828,7 @@ static int runlevel_main(void) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char*argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/timedate/timedatectl.c b/src/timedate/timedatectl.c
index 36c3f3cfcd..0ba32d31c4 100644
--- a/src/timedate/timedatectl.c
+++ b/src/timedate/timedatectl.c
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ static int timedatectl_main(sd_bus *bus, int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
diff --git a/src/timedate/timedated.c b/src/timedate/timedated.c
index 936a902be6..791e2b436f 100644
--- a/src/timedate/timedated.c
+++ b/src/timedate/timedated.c
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ static const sd_bus_vtable timedate_vtable[] = {
 };
 
 static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         assert(c);
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ static int connect_bus(Context *c, sd_event *event, sd_bus **_bus) {
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         Context context = {};
         _cleanup_event_unref_ sd_event *event = NULL;
-        _cleanup_bus_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
+        _cleanup_bus_close_unref_ sd_bus *bus = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_AUTO);