diff --git a/src/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl.c
index 12264f8ba7..ab6d126a26 100644
--- a/src/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl.c
@@ -3662,12 +3662,15 @@ static int enable_unit(DBusConnection *bus, char **args) {
         int r;
         DBusError error;
 
-        dbus_error_init(&error);
-
         r = enable_sysv_units(args);
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
+        if (!args[1])
+                return 0;
+
+        dbus_error_init(&error);
+
         if (!bus || avoid_bus()) {
                 if (streq(verb, "enable")) {
                         r = unit_file_enable(arg_scope, arg_runtime, arg_root, args+1, arg_force, &changes, &n_changes);