diff --git a/src/login/logind-session.c b/src/login/logind-session.c
index 2892c38417f..3c67f86b171 100644
--- a/src/login/logind-session.c
+++ b/src/login/logind-session.c
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ static int session_start_scope(Session *s) {
                         dbus_error_free(&error);
 
                         free(scope);
+                        return r;
                 } else {
                         s->scope = scope;
 
diff --git a/src/machine/machine.c b/src/machine/machine.c
index d75c3381890..591a656f1ea 100644
--- a/src/machine/machine.c
+++ b/src/machine/machine.c
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ static int machine_start_scope(Machine *m) {
                         dbus_error_free(&error);
 
                         free(scope);
+                        return r;
                 } else {
                         m->scope = scope;