diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.c
index fa1ec05b622..83ce62877a0 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.c
@@ -395,39 +395,49 @@ int remove_bridge(const char *bridge_name) {
 }
 
 static int parse_interface(const char *name) {
-        _cleanup_(sd_device_unrefp) sd_device *d = NULL;
         int ifi, r;
 
         r = parse_ifindex_or_ifname(name, &ifi);
         if (r < 0)
                 return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to resolve interface %s: %m", name);
 
-        if (path_is_read_only_fs("/sys") <= 0) {
-                char ifi_str[2 + DECIMAL_STR_MAX(int)];
-
-                /* udev should be around. */
-
-                sprintf(ifi_str, "n%i", ifi);
-                r = sd_device_new_from_device_id(&d, ifi_str);
-                if (r < 0)
-                        return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to get device %s: %m", name);
-
-                r = sd_device_get_is_initialized(d);
-                if (r < 0)
-                        return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine whether interface %s is initialized: %m", name);
-                if (r == 0)
-                        return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EBUSY), "Network interface %s is not initialized yet.", name);
-
-                r = device_is_renaming(d);
-                if (r < 0)
-                        return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine the interface %s is being renamed: %m", name);
-                if (r > 0)
-                        return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EBUSY), "Interface %s is being renamed.", name);
-        }
-
         return ifi;
 }
 
+int test_network_interface_initialized(const char *name) {
+        _cleanup_(sd_device_unrefp) sd_device *d = NULL;
+        int ifi, r;
+        char ifi_str[2 + DECIMAL_STR_MAX(int)];
+
+        if (path_is_read_only_fs("/sys"))
+                return 0;
+
+        /* udev should be around. */
+
+        ifi = parse_interface(name);
+        if (ifi < 0)
+                return ifi;
+
+        sprintf(ifi_str, "n%i", ifi);
+        r = sd_device_new_from_device_id(&d, ifi_str);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to get device %s: %m", name);
+
+        r = sd_device_get_is_initialized(d);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine whether interface %s is initialized: %m", name);
+        if (r == 0)
+                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EBUSY), "Network interface %s is not initialized yet.", name);
+
+        r = device_is_renaming(d);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to determine the interface %s is being renamed: %m", name);
+        if (r > 0)
+                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EBUSY), "Interface %s is being renamed.", name);
+
+        return 0;
+}
+
 int move_network_interfaces(pid_t pid, char **ifaces) {
         _cleanup_(sd_netlink_unrefp) sd_netlink *rtnl = NULL;
         char **i;
diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.h b/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.h
index 32ea21ccc80..7e83d10bfee 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.h
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn-network.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
+int test_network_interface_initialized(const char *name);
+
 int setup_veth(const char *machine_name, pid_t pid, char iface_name[IFNAMSIZ], bool bridge);
 int setup_veth_extra(const char *machine_name, pid_t pid, char **pairs);
 
diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
index 9113f6e323c..13c91c40bfc 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
@@ -848,6 +848,10 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
                                                        "Network interface name not valid: %s", optarg);
 
+                        r = test_network_interface_initialized(optarg);
+                        if (r < 0)
+                                return r;
+
                         if (strv_extend(&arg_network_interfaces, optarg) < 0)
                                 return log_oom();
 
@@ -861,6 +865,10 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
                                                        "MACVLAN network interface name not valid: %s", optarg);
 
+                        r = test_network_interface_initialized(optarg);
+                        if (r < 0)
+                                return r;
+
                         if (strv_extend(&arg_network_macvlan, optarg) < 0)
                                 return log_oom();
 
@@ -874,6 +882,10 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
                                                        "IPVLAN network interface name not valid: %s", optarg);
 
+                        r = test_network_interface_initialized(optarg);
+                        if (r < 0)
+                                return r;
+
                         if (strv_extend(&arg_network_ipvlan, optarg) < 0)
                                 return log_oom();