--- debian/network-manager.upstart.old	2014-10-15 09:24:26.000000000 -0700
+++ debian/network-manager.upstart	2014-12-01 12:57:26.612865488 -0800
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ stop on stopping dbus
 expect fork
 respawn
 
+pre-start script
+	# Contact systemd-logind now, to ensure it's started and avoid a race condition.
+	# network-manager calls sd_login_monitor_new, which will fail unless systemd-logind has been started.
+	# using the dbus API will start it since as of utopic it's started using dbus service activation
+
+	dbus-send --system --dest=org.freedesktop.login1 /org/freedesktop/login1 org.freedesktop.login1.Manager.ListSessions || exit 1
+end script
+
 script
 	# set $LANG so that messages appearing on the GUI will be translated. See LP: 875017
 	if [ -r /etc/default/locale ]; then