diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index 2529a7c3f1..c7cf59082c 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -4525,10 +4525,10 @@ static bool manager_should_show_status(Manager *m, StatusType type) {
                 return false;
 
         /* If we cannot find out the status properly, just proceed. */
-        if (type != STATUS_TYPE_EMERGENCY && manager_check_ask_password(m) > 0)
+        if (type < STATUS_TYPE_EMERGENCY && manager_check_ask_password(m) > 0)
                 return false;
 
-        if (type == STATUS_TYPE_NOTICE && m->show_status != SHOW_STATUS_NO)
+        if (type >= STATUS_TYPE_NOTICE && manager_get_show_status(m) != SHOW_STATUS_NO)
                 return true;
 
         return manager_get_show_status_on(m);
diff --git a/src/core/unit.h b/src/core/unit.h
index 62652540bc..9b7d00da10 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.h
+++ b/src/core/unit.h
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ typedef enum OOMPolicy {
 } OOMPolicy;
 
 typedef enum StatusType {
-        STATUS_TYPE_EPHEMERAL,
+        STATUS_TYPE_EPHEMERAL,   /* ordered by severity! Do not break order */
         STATUS_TYPE_NORMAL,
         STATUS_TYPE_NOTICE,
         STATUS_TYPE_EMERGENCY,
+        _STATUS_TYPE_MAX,
+        _STATUS_TYPE_INVALID = -EINVAL,
 } StatusType;
 
 static inline bool UNIT_IS_ACTIVE_OR_RELOADING(UnitActiveState t) {