diff --git a/man/org.freedesktop.systemd1.xml b/man/org.freedesktop.systemd1.xml
index 50680e6b37a..490c83bb965 100644
--- a/man/org.freedesktop.systemd1.xml
+++ b/man/org.freedesktop.systemd1.xml
@@ -2501,7 +2501,7 @@ node /org/freedesktop/systemd1/unit/avahi_2ddaemon_2eservice {
       condition is a trigger condition, whether the condition is reversed, the right hand side of the
       condition (e.g. the path in case of <varname>ConditionPathExists</varname>), and the status. The status
       can be 0, in which case the condition hasn't been checked yet, a positive value, in which case the
-      condition passed, or a negative value, in which case the condition failed. Currently only 0, +1, and -1
+      condition passed, or a negative value, in which case the condition is not met. Currently only 0, +1, and -1
       are used, but additional values may be used in the future, retaining the meaning of
       zero/positive/negative values.</para>
 
diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 846d15b4151..409801aed28 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -1890,12 +1890,12 @@ int unit_start(Unit *u, ActivationDetails *details) {
         if (UNIT_VTABLE(u)->once_only && dual_timestamp_is_set(&u->inactive_enter_timestamp))
                 return -ESTALE;
 
-        /* If the conditions failed, don't do anything at all. If we already are activating this call might
+        /* If the conditions were unmet, don't do anything at all. If we already are activating this call might
          * still be useful to speed up activation in case there is some hold-off time, but we don't want to
          * recheck the condition in that case. */
         if (state != UNIT_ACTIVATING &&
             !unit_test_condition(u))
-                return log_unit_debug_errno(u, SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(ECOMM), "Starting requested but condition failed. Not starting unit.");
+                return log_unit_debug_errno(u, SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(ECOMM), "Starting requested but condition not met. Not starting unit.");
 
         /* If the asserts failed, fail the entire job */
         if (state != UNIT_ACTIVATING &&
diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl-show.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl-show.c
index 4a14c105dd7..6422550af48 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl-show.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl-show.c
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ static void print_status_info(
         if (!i->condition_result && i->condition_timestamp > 0) {
                 int n = 0;
 
-                printf("  Condition: start %scondition failed%s at %s; %s\n",
+                printf("  Condition: start %scondition unmet%s at %s; %s\n",
                        ansi_highlight_yellow(), ansi_normal(),
                        FORMAT_TIMESTAMP_STYLE(i->condition_timestamp, arg_timestamp_style),
                        FORMAT_TIMESTAMP_RELATIVE(i->condition_timestamp));