diff --git a/src/oom/oomd.c b/src/oom/oomd.c
index 603baada5ae..28de6c5502d 100644
--- a/src/oom/oomd.c
+++ b/src/oom/oomd.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         assert_se(sigprocmask_many(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, SIGTERM, SIGINT, -1) >= 0);
 
         if (arg_mem_pressure_usec > 0 && arg_mem_pressure_usec < 1 * USEC_PER_SEC)
-                log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL), "DefaultMemoryPressureDurationSec= must be 0 or at least 1s");
+                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL), "DefaultMemoryPressureDurationSec= must be 0 or at least 1s");
 
         r = manager_new(&m);
         if (r < 0)