diff --git a/man/systemctl.xml b/man/systemctl.xml
index 755a74f987..1fb056874c 100644
--- a/man/systemctl.xml
+++ b/man/systemctl.xml
@@ -888,6 +888,11 @@ kobject-uevent 1 systemd-udevd-kernel.socket systemd-udevd.service
 
             <para>Example: <command>systemctl set-property foobar.service CPUShares=777</command></para>
 
+            <para>If the specified unit appears to be inactive, the
+            changes will be only stored on disk as described
+            previously hence they will be effective when the unit will
+            be started.</para>
+
             <para>Note that this command allows changing multiple
             properties at the same time, which is preferable over
             setting them individually. Like unit file configuration
diff --git a/src/core/dbus-manager.c b/src/core/dbus-manager.c
index d3bcc795ae..f58ac55009 100644
--- a/src/core/dbus-manager.c
+++ b/src/core/dbus-manager.c
@@ -630,9 +630,13 @@ static int method_set_unit_properties(sd_bus_message *message, void *userdata, s
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        u = manager_get_unit(m, name);
-        if (!u)
-                return sd_bus_error_setf(error, BUS_ERROR_NO_SUCH_UNIT, "Unit %s is not loaded.", name);
+        r = manager_load_unit(m, name, NULL, error, &u);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
+
+        r = bus_unit_check_load_state(u, error);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
 
         return bus_unit_method_set_properties(message, u, error);
 }