diff --git a/src/basic/conf-files.c b/src/basic/conf-files.c
index c0c22610d77..b5780194df5 100644
--- a/src/basic/conf-files.c
+++ b/src/basic/conf-files.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ static int files_add(Hashmap *h, const char *root, const char *path, const char
         int r;
 
         assert(path);
-        assert(suffix);
 
         dirpath = prefix_roota(root, path);
 
@@ -94,7 +93,6 @@ static int conf_files_list_strv_internal(char ***strv, const char *suffix, const
         int r;
 
         assert(strv);
-        assert(suffix);
 
         /* This alters the dirs string array */
         if (!path_strv_resolve_uniq(dirs, root))
@@ -126,7 +124,6 @@ int conf_files_list_strv(char ***strv, const char *suffix, const char *root, con
         _cleanup_strv_free_ char **copy = NULL;
 
         assert(strv);
-        assert(suffix);
 
         copy = strv_copy((char**) dirs);
         if (!copy)
diff --git a/src/basic/dirent-util.c b/src/basic/dirent-util.c
index 59067121b74..6b9d26773ea 100644
--- a/src/basic/dirent-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/dirent-util.c
@@ -70,5 +70,8 @@ bool dirent_is_file_with_suffix(const struct dirent *de, const char *suffix) {
         if (de->d_name[0] == '.')
                 return false;
 
+        if (!suffix)
+                return true;
+
         return endswith(de->d_name, suffix);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/load-dropin.c b/src/core/load-dropin.c
index fc07151d37e..ff3636149a8 100644
--- a/src/core/load-dropin.c
+++ b/src/core/load-dropin.c
@@ -19,53 +19,121 @@
 
 
 #include "conf-parser.h"
+#include "fs-util.h"
 #include "load-dropin.h"
 #include "load-fragment.h"
 #include "log.h"
+#include "stat-util.h"
+#include "string-util.h"
 #include "strv.h"
 #include "unit-name.h"
 #include "unit.h"
 
-static int add_dependency_consumer(
-                UnitDependency dependency,
-                const char *entry,
-                const char* filepath,
-                void *arg) {
-        Unit *u = arg;
+static bool unit_name_compatible(const char *a, const char *b) {
+        _cleanup_free_ char *prefix = NULL;
         int r;
 
-        assert(u);
+        /* the straightforward case: the symlink name matches the target */
+        if (streq(a, b))
+                return true;
 
-        r = unit_add_dependency_by_name(u, dependency, entry, filepath, true);
+        r = unit_name_template(a, &prefix);
+        if (r < 0) {
+                log_oom();
+                return true;
+        }
+
+        /* an instance name points to a target that is just the template name */
+        if (streq(prefix, b))
+                return true;
+
+        return false;
+}
+
+static int process_deps(Unit *u, UnitDependency dependency, const char *dir_suffix) {
+        _cleanup_strv_free_ char **paths = NULL;
+        char **p;
+        int r;
+
+        r = unit_file_find_dropin_paths(NULL,
+                                        u->manager->lookup_paths.search_path,
+                                        u->manager->unit_path_cache,
+                                        dir_suffix,
+                                        NULL,
+                                        u->names,
+                                        &paths);
         if (r < 0)
-                log_error_errno(r, "Cannot add dependency %s to %s, ignoring: %m", entry, u->id);
+                return r;
+
+        STRV_FOREACH(p, paths) {
+                const char *entry;
+                _cleanup_free_ char *target = NULL;
+
+                entry = basename(*p);
+
+                if (null_or_empty_path(*p) > 0) {
+                        /* an error usually means an invalid symlink, which is not a mask */
+                        log_unit_debug(u, "%s dependency on %s is masked by %s, ignoring.",
+                                       unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), entry, *p);
+                        continue;
+                }
+
+                r = is_symlink(*p);
+                if (r < 0) {
+                        log_unit_warning_errno(u, r, "%s dropin %s unreadable, ignoring: %m",
+                                               unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), *p);
+                        continue;
+                }
+                if (r == 0) {
+                        log_unit_warning(u, "%s dependency dropin %s is not a symlink, ignoring.",
+                                         unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), *p);
+                        continue;
+                }
+
+                if (!unit_name_is_valid(entry, UNIT_NAME_ANY)) {
+                        log_unit_warning(u, "%s dependency dropin %s is not a valid unit name, ignoring.",
+                                         unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), *p);
+                        continue;
+                }
+
+                r = readlink_malloc(*p, &target);
+                if (r < 0) {
+                        log_unit_warning_errno(u, r, "readlink(\"%s\") failed, ignoring: %m", *p);
+                        continue;
+                }
+
+                /* We don't treat this as an error, especially because we didn't check this for a
+                 * long time. Nevertheless, we warn, because such mismatch can be mighty confusing. */
+                if (!unit_name_compatible(entry, basename(target)))
+                        log_unit_warning(u, "%s dependency dropin %s target %s has different name",
+                                         unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), *p, target);
+
+                r = unit_add_dependency_by_name(u, dependency, entry, *p, true);
+                if (r < 0)
+                        log_unit_error_errno(u, r, "cannot add %s dependency on %s, ignoring: %m",
+                                             unit_dependency_to_string(dependency), entry);
+        }
 
         return 0;
 }
 
 int unit_load_dropin(Unit *u) {
         _cleanup_strv_free_ char **l = NULL;
-        Iterator i;
-        char *t, **f;
+        char **f;
         int r;
 
         assert(u);
 
-        /* Load dependencies from supplementary drop-in directories */
+        /* Load dependencies from .wants and .requires directories */
+        r = process_deps(u, UNIT_WANTS, ".wants");
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
 
-        SET_FOREACH(t, u->names, i) {
-                char **p;
-
-                STRV_FOREACH(p, u->manager->lookup_paths.search_path) {
-                        unit_file_process_dir(NULL, u->manager->unit_path_cache, *p, t,
-                                              ".wants", UNIT_WANTS,
-                                              add_dependency_consumer, u, NULL);
-                        unit_file_process_dir(NULL, u->manager->unit_path_cache, *p, t,
-                                              ".requires", UNIT_REQUIRES,
-                                              add_dependency_consumer, u, NULL);
-                }
-        }
+        r = process_deps(u, UNIT_REQUIRES, ".requires");
+        if (r < 0)
+                return r;
 
+        /* Load .conf dropins */
         r = unit_find_dropin_paths(u, &l);
         if (r <= 0)
                 return 0;
diff --git a/src/core/load-dropin.h b/src/core/load-dropin.h
index 319827dfb99..5828a223cee 100644
--- a/src/core/load-dropin.h
+++ b/src/core/load-dropin.h
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@
 /* Read service data supplementary drop-in directories */
 
 static inline int unit_find_dropin_paths(Unit *u, char ***paths) {
-        return unit_file_find_dropin_paths(NULL,
-                                           u->manager->lookup_paths.search_path,
-                                           u->manager->unit_path_cache,
-                                           u->names,
-                                           paths);
+        return unit_file_find_dropin_conf_paths(NULL,
+                                                u->manager->lookup_paths.search_path,
+                                                u->manager->unit_path_cache,
+                                                u->names,
+                                                paths);
 }
 
 int unit_load_dropin(Unit *u);
diff --git a/src/shared/dropin.c b/src/shared/dropin.c
index 06cf3de6202..3917eb8f236 100644
--- a/src/shared/dropin.c
+++ b/src/shared/dropin.c
@@ -117,17 +117,12 @@ int write_drop_in_format(const char *dir, const char *unit, unsigned level,
         return write_drop_in(dir, unit, level, name, p);
 }
 
-static int iterate_dir(
-                const char *path,
+static int unit_file_find_dir(
                 const char *original_root,
-                UnitDependency dependency,
-                dependency_consumer_t consumer,
-                void *arg,
-                char ***strv) {
+                const char *path,
+                char ***dirs) {
 
         _cleanup_free_ char *chased = NULL;
-        _cleanup_closedir_ DIR *d = NULL;
-        struct dirent *de;
         int r;
 
         assert(path);
@@ -137,52 +132,21 @@ static int iterate_dir(
                 return log_full_errno(r == -ENOENT ? LOG_DEBUG : LOG_WARNING,
                                       r, "Failed to canonicalize path %s: %m", path);
 
-        /* The config directories are special, since the order of the
-         * drop-ins matters */
-        if (dependency < 0)  {
-                r = strv_push(strv, chased);
-                if (r < 0)
-                        return log_oom();
-
-                chased = NULL;
-                return 0;
-        }
-
-        assert(consumer);
-
-        d = opendir(chased);
-        if (!d) {
-                if (errno == ENOENT)
-                        return 0;
-
-                return log_warning_errno(errno, "Failed to open directory %s: %m", path);
-        }
-
-        FOREACH_DIRENT(de, d, return log_warning_errno(errno, "Failed to read directory %s: %m", path)) {
-                _cleanup_free_ char *f = NULL;
-
-                f = strjoin(path, "/", de->d_name);
-                if (!f)
-                        return log_oom();
-
-                r = consumer(dependency, de->d_name, f, arg);
-                if (r < 0)
-                        return r;
-        }
+        r = strv_push(dirs, chased);
+        if (r < 0)
+                return log_oom();
 
+        chased = NULL;
         return 0;
 }
 
-int unit_file_process_dir(
+static int unit_file_find_dirs(
                 const char *original_root,
                 Set *unit_path_cache,
                 const char *unit_path,
                 const char *name,
                 const char *suffix,
-                UnitDependency dependency,
-                dependency_consumer_t consumer,
-                void *arg,
-                char ***strv) {
+                char ***dirs) {
 
         _cleanup_free_ char *path = NULL;
         int r;
@@ -195,8 +159,11 @@ int unit_file_process_dir(
         if (!path)
                 return log_oom();
 
-        if (!unit_path_cache || set_get(unit_path_cache, path))
-                (void) iterate_dir(path, original_root, dependency, consumer, arg, strv);
+        if (!unit_path_cache || set_get(unit_path_cache, path)) {
+                r = unit_file_find_dir(original_root, path, dirs);
+                if (r < 0)
+                        return r;
+        }
 
         if (unit_name_is_valid(name, UNIT_NAME_INSTANCE)) {
                 _cleanup_free_ char *template = NULL, *p = NULL;
@@ -210,8 +177,11 @@ int unit_file_process_dir(
                 if (!p)
                         return log_oom();
 
-                if (!unit_path_cache || set_get(unit_path_cache, p))
-                        (void) iterate_dir(p, original_root, dependency, consumer, arg, strv);
+                if (!unit_path_cache || set_get(unit_path_cache, p)) {
+                        r = unit_file_find_dir(original_root, p, dirs);
+                        if (r < 0)
+                                return r;
+                }
         }
 
         return 0;
@@ -221,30 +191,28 @@ int unit_file_find_dropin_paths(
                 const char *original_root,
                 char **lookup_path,
                 Set *unit_path_cache,
+                const char *dir_suffix,
+                const char *file_suffix,
                 Set *names,
                 char ***paths) {
 
-        _cleanup_strv_free_ char **strv = NULL, **ans = NULL;
+        _cleanup_strv_free_ char **dirs = NULL, **ans = NULL;
         Iterator i;
-        char *t;
+        char *t, **p;
         int r;
 
         assert(paths);
 
-        SET_FOREACH(t, names, i) {
-                char **p;
-
+        SET_FOREACH(t, names, i)
                 STRV_FOREACH(p, lookup_path)
-                        unit_file_process_dir(original_root, unit_path_cache, *p, t, ".d",
-                                              _UNIT_DEPENDENCY_INVALID, NULL, NULL, &strv);
-        }
+                        unit_file_find_dirs(original_root, unit_path_cache, *p, t, dir_suffix, &dirs);
 
-        if (strv_isempty(strv))
+        if (strv_isempty(dirs))
                 return 0;
 
-        r = conf_files_list_strv(&ans, ".conf", NULL, (const char**) strv);
+        r = conf_files_list_strv(&ans, file_suffix, NULL, (const char**) dirs);
         if (r < 0)
-                return log_warning_errno(r, "Failed to get list of configuration files: %m");
+                return log_warning_errno(r, "Failed to sort the list of configuration files: %m");
 
         *paths = ans;
         ans = NULL;
diff --git a/src/shared/dropin.h b/src/shared/dropin.h
index 761b2508860..a2b8cdce613 100644
--- a/src/shared/dropin.h
+++ b/src/shared/dropin.h
@@ -33,31 +33,24 @@ int write_drop_in(const char *dir, const char *unit, unsigned level,
 int write_drop_in_format(const char *dir, const char *unit, unsigned level,
                          const char *name, const char *format, ...) _printf_(5, 6);
 
-/**
- * This callback will be called for each directory entry @entry,
- * with @filepath being the full path to the entry.
- *
- * If return value is negative, loop will be aborted.
- */
-typedef int (*dependency_consumer_t)(UnitDependency dependency,
-                                     const char *entry,
-                                     const char* filepath,
-                                     void *arg);
-
-int unit_file_process_dir(
-                const char *original_root,
-                Set * unit_path_cache,
-                const char *unit_path,
-                const char *name,
-                const char *suffix,
-                UnitDependency dependency,
-                dependency_consumer_t consumer,
-                void *arg,
-                char ***strv);
-
 int unit_file_find_dropin_paths(
                 const char *original_root,
                 char **lookup_path,
                 Set *unit_path_cache,
+                const char *dir_suffix,
+                const char *file_suffix,
                 Set *names,
                 char ***paths);
+
+static inline int unit_file_find_dropin_conf_paths(
+                const char *original_root,
+                char **lookup_path,
+                Set *unit_path_cache,
+                Set *names,
+                char ***paths) {
+        return unit_file_find_dropin_paths(original_root,
+                                           lookup_path,
+                                           unit_path_cache,
+                                           ".d", ".conf",
+                                           names, paths);
+}
diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
index 2964b4e6b28..5cb07739d43 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
@@ -2601,7 +2601,8 @@ static int unit_find_paths(
                         return log_error_errno(r, "Failed to add unit name: %m");
 
                 if (dropin_paths) {
-                        r = unit_file_find_dropin_paths(arg_root, lp->search_path, NULL, names, &dropins);
+                        r = unit_file_find_dropin_conf_paths(arg_root, lp->search_path,
+                                                             NULL, names, &dropins);
                         if (r < 0)
                                 return r;
                 }
diff --git a/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/Makefile b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/Makefile
new file mode 120000
index 00000000000..e9f93b1104c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../TEST-01-BASIC/Makefile
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test-dropin.sh b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test-dropin.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..9d8af99ac48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test-dropin.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+#! /bin/bash
+
+set -e
+set -x
+
+_clear_service () {
+        systemctl stop $1.service 2>/dev/null || :
+        rm -f  /{etc,run,usr/lib}/systemd/system/$1.service
+        rm -fr /{etc,run,usr/lib}/systemd/system/$1.service.d
+        rm -fr /{etc,run,usr/lib}/systemd/system/$1.service.{wants,requires}
+}
+
+clear_services () {
+        for u in $*; do
+                _clear_service $u
+        done
+        systemctl daemon-reload
+}
+
+create_service () {
+        clear_services $1
+
+        cat >/etc/systemd/system/$1.service<<EOF
+[Unit]
+Description=$1 unit
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/bin/sleep 100000
+EOF
+        mkdir -p /{etc,run,usr/lib}/systemd/system/$1.service.d
+        mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/$1.service.{wants,requires}
+        mkdir -p /run/systemd/system/$1.service.{wants,requires}
+        mkdir -p /usr/lib/systemd/system/$1.service.{wants,requires}
+}
+
+create_services () {
+        for u in $*; do
+                create_service $u
+        done
+}
+
+check_ok () {
+        [ $# -eq 3 ] || return
+
+        x="$(systemctl show --value -p $2 $1)"
+        case "$x" in
+        *$3*)      return 0 ;;
+        *)         return 1
+        esac
+}
+
+check_ko () {
+        ! check_ok "$@"
+}
+
+test_basic_dropins () {
+        echo "Testing basic dropins..."
+
+        echo "*** test a wants b wants c"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -s ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        ln -s ../c.service /etc/systemd/system/b.service.wants/
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+        check_ok b Wants c.service
+
+        echo "*** test a wants,requires b"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -s ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        ln -s ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+        check_ok a Requires b.service
+
+        echo "*** test a wants nonexistent"
+        create_service a
+        ln -s ../nonexistent.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        check_ok a Wants nonexistent.service
+        systemctl start a
+        systemctl stop  a
+
+        echo "*** test a requires nonexistent"
+        ln -sf ../nonexistent.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        systemctl daemon-reload
+        check_ok a Requires nonexistent.service
+
+        # 'b' is already loaded when 'c' pulls it in via a dropin.
+        echo "*** test a,c require b"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/c.service.requires/
+        systemctl start a
+        check_ok c Requires b.service
+        systemctl stop a b
+
+        # 'b'  is already loaded when 'c' pulls it in via an alias dropin.
+        echo "*** test a wants alias"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -sf c.service /etc/systemd/system/c1.service
+        ln -sf ../c.service  /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        ln -sf ../c1.service /etc/systemd/system/b.service.wants/
+        systemctl start a
+        check_ok a Wants c.service
+        check_ok b Wants c.service
+        systemctl stop a c
+
+        clear_services a b c
+}
+
+test_template_dropins () {
+        echo "Testing template dropins..."
+
+        create_services foo bar@ yup@
+
+        ln -s /etc/systemd/system/bar@.service /etc/systemd/system/foo.service.wants/bar@1.service
+        check_ok foo Wants bar@1.service
+
+        clear_services foo bar@ yup@
+}
+
+test_alias_dropins () {
+        echo "Testing alias dropins..."
+
+        echo "*** test a wants b1 alias of b"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        ln -sf ../b1.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+        systemctl start a
+        systemctl --quiet is-active b
+        systemctl stop a b
+        rm /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        clear_services a b
+
+        # A weird behavior: the dependencies for 'a' may vary. It can be
+        # changed by loading an alias...
+        #
+        # [1] 'a1' is loaded and then "renamed" into 'a'. 'a1' is therefore
+        # part of the names set so all its specific dropins are loaded.
+        #
+        # [2] 'a' is already loaded. 'a1' is simply only merged into 'a' so
+        # none of its dropins are loaded ('y' is missing from the deps).
+        echo "*** test 2"
+        create_services a x y
+        mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system/a1.service.wants/
+        ln -sf a.service /etc/systemd/system/a1.service
+        ln -sf ../x.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/
+        ln -sf ../y.service /etc/systemd/system/a1.service.wants/
+        check_ok a1 Wants x.service # see [1]
+        check_ok a1 Wants y.service
+        systemctl start a
+        check_ok a1 Wants x.service # see [2]
+        check_ko a1 Wants y.service
+        systemctl stop a x y
+        rm /etc/systemd/system/a1.service
+
+        clear_services a x y
+}
+
+test_masked_dropins () {
+        echo "Testing masked dropins..."
+
+        create_services a b
+
+        # 'b' is masked for both deps
+        echo "*** test a wants,requires b is masked"
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/b.service
+        check_ko a Wants b.service
+        check_ko a Requires b.service
+
+        # 'a' wants 'b' and 'b' is masked at a lower level
+        echo "*** test a wants b, mask override"
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        ln -sf /dev/null /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+
+        # 'a' wants 'b' and 'b' is masked at a higher level
+        echo "*** test a wants b, mask"
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        ln -sf ../b.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        check_ko a Wants b.service
+
+        # 'b1' is an alias for 'b': masking 'b' dep should not influence 'b1' dep
+        echo "*** test a wants b, b1, and one is masked"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        ln -sf ../b1.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b1.service
+        systemctl cat a
+        systemctl show -p Wants,Requires a
+        systemctl cat b1
+        systemctl show -p Wants,Requires b1
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+        check_ko a Wants b1.service # the alias does not show up in the list of units
+        rm /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+
+        # 'b1' is an alias for 'b': masking 'b1' should not influence 'b' dep
+        echo "*** test a wants b, alias dep is masked"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b1.service
+        ln -sf ../b.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+        check_ko a Wants b1.service # the alias does not show up in the list of units
+        rm /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+
+        # 'a' has Wants=b.service but also has a masking
+        # dropin 'b': 'b' should still be pulled in.
+        echo "*** test a wants b both ways"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.wants/b.service
+        cat >/usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.d/wants-b.conf<<EOF
+[Unit]
+Wants=b.service
+EOF
+        check_ok a Wants b.service
+
+        # mask a dropin that points to an nonexistent unit.
+        echo "*** test a wants nonexistent is masked"
+        create_services a
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/nonexistent.service
+        ln -sf ../nonexistent.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        check_ko a Requires nonexistent.service
+
+        # 'b' is already loaded when 'c' pulls it in via a dropin but 'b' is
+        # masked at a higher level.
+        echo "*** test a wants b is masked"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf ../b.service /run/systemd/system/c.service.requires/
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/c.service.requires/b.service
+        systemctl start a
+        check_ko c Requires b.service
+        systemctl stop a b
+
+        # 'b' is already loaded when 'c' pulls it in via a dropin but 'b' is
+        # masked at a lower level.
+        echo "*** test a requires b is masked"
+        create_services a b c
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf ../b.service /etc/systemd/system/c.service.requires/
+        ln -sf /dev/null /run/systemd/system/c.service.requires/b.service
+        systemctl start a
+        check_ok c Requires b.service
+        systemctl stop a b
+
+        # 'a' requires 2 aliases of 'b' and one of them is a mask.
+        echo "*** test a requires alias of b, other alias masked"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b2.service
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/b1.service
+        ln -sf ../b1.service /run/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf ../b2.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        check_ok a Requires b
+
+        # Same as above but now 'b' is masked.
+        echo "*** test a requires alias of b, b dep masked"
+        create_services a b
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b1.service
+        ln -sf b.service /etc/systemd/system/b2.service
+        ln -sf ../b1.service /run/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf ../b2.service /usr/lib/systemd/system/a.service.requires/
+        ln -sf /dev/null /etc/systemd/system/a.service.requires/b.service
+        check_ok a Requires b
+
+        clear_services a b
+}
+
+test_basic_dropins
+test_template_dropins
+test_alias_dropins
+test_masked_dropins
+
+touch /testok
diff --git a/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test.sh b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..1b460db7b19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# -*- mode: shell-script; indent-tabs-mode: nil; sh-basic-offset: 4; -*-
+# ex: ts=8 sw=4 sts=4 et filetype=sh
+
+TEST_DESCRIPTION="Dropin tests"
+
+. $TEST_BASE_DIR/test-functions
+
+
+test_run_nspawn() {
+        if ! run_nspawn; then
+                dwarn "can't run systemd-nspawn, skipping"
+                return 0
+        fi
+        check_result_nspawn
+}
+
+test_run() {
+        test_run_nspawn || return
+}
+
+test_setup() {
+        # create the basic filesystem layout
+        setup_basic_environment >/dev/null
+
+        # mask some services that we do not want to run in these tests
+        ln -s /dev/null $initdir/etc/systemd/system/systemd-hwdb-update.service
+        ln -s /dev/null $initdir/etc/systemd/system/systemd-journal-catalog-update.service
+        ln -s /dev/null $initdir/etc/systemd/system/systemd-networkd.service
+        ln -s /dev/null $initdir/etc/systemd/system/systemd-networkd.socket
+        ln -s /dev/null $initdir/etc/systemd/system/systemd-resolved.service
+
+        # import the test scripts in the rootfs and plug them in systemd
+        cp testsuite.service $initdir/etc/systemd/system/
+        cp test-dropin.sh    $initdir/
+        setup_testsuite
+
+        # create dedicated rootfs for nspawn (located in $TESTDIR/nspawn-root)
+        setup_nspawn_root
+}
+
+test_cleanup() {
+        return 0
+}
+
+do_test "$@"
diff --git a/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/testsuite.service b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/testsuite.service
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d9790c26102
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/TEST-15-DROPIN/testsuite.service
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Testsuite service
+After=multi-user.target
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/test-dropin.sh
+Type=oneshot