diff --git a/src/login/pam_systemd.c b/src/login/pam_systemd.c
index 9a938c1c9b..7884fa2479 100644
--- a/src/login/pam_systemd.c
+++ b/src/login/pam_systemd.c
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ _public_ PAM_EXTERN int pam_sm_open_session(
                         return PAM_SUCCESS;
                 } else {
                         pam_syslog(handle, LOG_ERR, "Failed to create session: %s", bus_error_message(&error, r));
-                        return PAM_SYSTEM_ERR;
+                        return PAM_SESSION_ERR;
                 }
         }