diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
index 03538d1c2f3..d7bdae64a9b 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
@@ -1332,10 +1332,6 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
         arg_caps_retain = (arg_caps_retain | plus | (arg_private_network ? 1ULL << CAP_NET_ADMIN : 0)) & ~minus;
 
-        r = cg_unified_flush();
-        if (r < 0)
-                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine whether the unified cgroups hierarchy is used: %m");
-
         e = getenv("SYSTEMD_NSPAWN_CONTAINER_SERVICE");
         if (e)
                 arg_container_service_name = e;
@@ -4226,6 +4222,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         if (r < 0)
                 goto finish;
 
+        r = cg_unified_flush();
+        if (r < 0) {
+                log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine whether the unified cgroups hierarchy is used: %m");
+                goto finish;
+        }
+
         r = verify_arguments();
         if (r < 0)
                 goto finish;