--- a/src/login/logind-user.c
+++ b/src/login/logind-user.c
@@ -461,9 +461,11 @@
                 return r;
 
         /* Spawn user systemd */
-        r = user_start_service(u);
-        if (r < 0)
-                return r;
+	if (sd_booted() > 0) {
+	        r = user_start_service(u);
+	        if (r < 0)
+	                return r;
+	}
 
         if (!dual_timestamp_is_set(&u->timestamp))
                 dual_timestamp_get(&u->timestamp);