diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index 30a020f7778..9c68eb49d19 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -3587,7 +3587,7 @@ static bool manager_journal_is_running(Manager *m) {
         u = manager_get_unit(m, SPECIAL_JOURNALD_SERVICE);
         if (!u)
                 return false;
-        if (SERVICE(u)->state != SERVICE_RUNNING)
+        if (!IN_SET(SERVICE(u)->state, SERVICE_RELOAD, SERVICE_RUNNING))
                 return false;
 
         return true;