diff --git a/src/core/device.c b/src/core/device.c
index 91ffe458dc0..85b94e2d60c 100644
--- a/src/core/device.c
+++ b/src/core/device.c
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ static int device_set_sysfs(Device *d, const char *sysfs) {
         Unit *u = UNIT(ASSERT_PTR(d));
         int r;
 
-        if (streq_ptr(d->sysfs, sysfs))
+        assert(sysfs);
+
+        if (path_equal(d->sysfs, sysfs))
                 return 0;
 
         Hashmap **devices = &u->manager->devices_by_sysfs;