diff --git a/src/network/networkd-netdev.c b/src/network/networkd-netdev.c
index 36decf459a5..7962cc6c6a7 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-netdev.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-netdev.c
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ static int netdev_create_handler(sd_rtnl *rtnl, sd_rtnl_message *m, void *userda
         if (r == -EEXIST)
                 log_debug_netdev(netdev, "netdev exists, using existing");
         else if (r < 0) {
-                log_warning_netdev(netdev, "netdev failed: %s", strerror(-r));
-                netdev_enter_failed(netdev);
+                log_warning_netdev(netdev, "netdev could not be greated: %s", strerror(-r));
+                netdev_drop(netdev);
 
                 return 1;
         }