diff --git a/src/initctl/initctl.c b/src/initctl/initctl.c
index 8ed5f1e264..f0f722ac3e 100644
--- a/src/initctl/initctl.c
+++ b/src/initctl/initctl.c
@@ -318,8 +318,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
         n = sd_listen_fds(true);
         if (n < 0)
-                return log_error_errno(errno,
-                                       "Failed to read listening file descriptors from environment: %m");
+                return log_error_errno(n, "Failed to read listening file descriptors from environment: %m");
 
         if (n <= 0 || n > SERVER_FD_MAX)
                 return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),