diff --git a/src/network/networkctl.c b/src/network/networkctl.c
index 61fa0ed5566..fefcbfe8295 100644
--- a/src/network/networkctl.c
+++ b/src/network/networkctl.c
@@ -93,11 +93,10 @@ JsonFormatFlags arg_json_format_flags = JSON_FORMAT_OFF;
 
 STATIC_DESTRUCTOR_REGISTER(arg_drop_in, freep);
 
-static int check_netns_match(void) {
-        struct stat st;
-        uint64_t id;
-        JsonVariant *reply = NULL;
+static int varlink_connect_networkd(Varlink **ret_varlink) {
         _cleanup_(varlink_unrefp) Varlink *vl = NULL;
+        JsonVariant *reply;
+        uint64_t id;
         int r;
 
         r = varlink_connect_address(&vl, "/run/systemd/netif/io.systemd.Network");
@@ -117,18 +116,21 @@ static int check_netns_match(void) {
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        if (id == 0) {
+        if (id == 0)
                 log_debug("systemd-networkd.service not running in a network namespace (?), skipping netns check.");
-                return 0;
+        else {
+                struct stat st;
+
+                if (stat("/proc/self/ns/net", &st) < 0)
+                        return log_error_errno(errno, "Failed to determine our own network namespace ID: %m");
+
+                if (id != st.st_ino)
+                        return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EREMOTE),
+                                               "networkctl must be invoked in same network namespace as systemd-networkd.service.");
         }
 
-        if (stat("/proc/self/ns/net", &st) < 0)
-                return log_error_errno(errno, "Failed to determine our own network namespace ID: %m");
-
-        if (id != st.st_ino)
-                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EREMOTE),
-                                       "networkctl must be invoked in same network namespace as systemd-networkd.service.");
-
+        if (ret_varlink)
+                *ret_varlink = TAKE_PTR(vl);
         return 0;
 }
 
@@ -162,7 +164,7 @@ int acquire_bus(sd_bus **ret) {
                 return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to connect to system bus: %m");
 
         if (networkd_is_running()) {
-                r = check_netns_match();
+                r = varlink_connect_networkd(/* ret_varlink = */ NULL);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
         } else