diff --git a/man/notify-selfcontained-example.c b/man/notify-selfcontained-example.c
index 90c3861374..6bbe4f2e3b 100644
--- a/man/notify-selfcontained-example.c
+++ b/man/notify-selfcontained-example.c
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ static int notify(const char *message) {
   _cleanup_(closep) int fd = -1;
   const char *socket_path;
 
-  socket_path = getenv("NOTIFY_SOCKET");
-  if (!socket_path)
-    return 0; /* Not running under systemd? Nothing to do */
-
+  /* Verify the argument first */
   if (!message)
     return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -52,6 +49,11 @@ static int notify(const char *message) {
   if (message_length == 0)
     return -EINVAL;
 
+  /* If the variable is not set, the protocol is a noop */
+  socket_path = getenv("NOTIFY_SOCKET");
+  if (!socket_path)
+    return 0; /* Not set? Nothing to do */
+
   /* Only AF_UNIX is supported, with path or abstract sockets */
   if (socket_path[0] != '/' && socket_path[0] != '@')
     return -EAFNOSUPPORT;