diff --git a/src/core/execute.c b/src/core/execute.c
index 9c1aa4cf98..f6c4b4676e 100644
--- a/src/core/execute.c
+++ b/src/core/execute.c
@@ -2927,11 +2927,16 @@ int exec_spawn(Unit *unit,
             context->std_output == EXEC_OUTPUT_SOCKET ||
             context->std_error == EXEC_OUTPUT_SOCKET) {
 
-                if (params->n_fds != 1) {
+                if (params->n_fds > 1) {
                         log_unit_error(unit, "Got more than one socket.");
                         return -EINVAL;
                 }
 
+                if (params->n_fds == 0) {
+                        log_unit_error(unit, "Got no socket.");
+                        return -EINVAL;
+                }
+
                 socket_fd = params->fds[0];
         } else {
                 socket_fd = -1;