diff --git a/src/network/networkd-network.c b/src/network/networkd-network.c
index 4fd48be52a..ed59584fd1 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-network.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-network.c
@@ -164,10 +164,10 @@ int network_verify(Network *network) {
             strv_isempty(network->match_path) && strv_isempty(network->match_driver) &&
             strv_isempty(network->match_type) && strv_isempty(network->match_name) &&
             strv_isempty(network->match_property) && strv_isempty(network->match_ssid) && !network->conditions)
-                log_warning("%s: No valid settings found in the [Match] section. "
-                            "The file will match all interfaces. "
-                            "If that is intended, please add Name=* in the [Match] section.",
-                            network->filename);
+                return log_warning_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
+                                         "%s: No valid settings found in the [Match] section, ignoring file. "
+                                         "To match all interfaces, add Name=* in the [Match] section.",
+                                         network->filename);
 
         /* skip out early if configuration does not match the environment */
         if (!condition_test_list(network->conditions, NULL, NULL, NULL))
diff --git a/src/udev/net/link-config.c b/src/udev/net/link-config.c
index 4a44edfc01..dfe9b9f313 100644
--- a/src/udev/net/link-config.c
+++ b/src/udev/net/link-config.c
@@ -165,11 +165,12 @@ int link_load_one(link_config_ctx *ctx, const char *filename) {
 
         if (set_isempty(link->match_mac) && set_isempty(link->match_permanent_mac) &&
             strv_isempty(link->match_path) && strv_isempty(link->match_driver) && strv_isempty(link->match_type) &&
-            strv_isempty(link->match_name) && strv_isempty(link->match_property) && !link->conditions)
-                log_warning("%s: No valid settings found in the [Match] section. "
-                            "The file will match all interfaces. "
-                            "If that is intended, please add OriginalName=* in the [Match] section.",
+            strv_isempty(link->match_name) && strv_isempty(link->match_property) && !link->conditions) {
+                log_warning("%s: No valid settings found in the [Match] section, ignoring file. "
+                            "To match all interfaces, add OriginalName=* in the [Match] section.",
                             filename);
+                return 0;
+        }
 
         if (!condition_test_list(link->conditions, NULL, NULL, NULL)) {
                 log_debug("%s: Conditions do not match the system environment, skipping.", filename);