diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/netlink-util.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/netlink-util.c
index 636af1a2d5..832159a649 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/netlink-util.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/netlink-util.c
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ int rtnl_resolve_link_alternative_name(sd_netlink **rtnl, const char *name, char
         assert(ifindex > 0);
 
         if (ret) {
-                r = sd_netlink_message_read_string_strdup(message, IFLA_IFNAME, ret);
+                r = sd_netlink_message_read_string_strdup(reply, IFLA_IFNAME, ret);
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
         }
diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/test-netlink.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/test-netlink.c
index 4c2d3173fb..13aedc4dbe 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/test-netlink.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-netlink/test-netlink.c
@@ -677,6 +677,10 @@ TEST(rtnl_set_link_name) {
         assert_se(!strv_contains(alternative_names, "testlongalternativename"));
         assert_se(strv_contains(alternative_names, "test-additional-name"));
         assert_se(!strv_contains(alternative_names, "test-shortname"));
+
+        _cleanup_free_ char *resolved = NULL;
+        assert_se(rtnl_resolve_link_alternative_name(&rtnl, "test-additional-name", &resolved) == ifindex);
+        assert_se(streq_ptr(resolved, "test-shortname"));
 }
 
 DEFINE_TEST_MAIN(LOG_DEBUG);