diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
index e3ffc8c41d..f0cfd4f1aa 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
@@ -1332,11 +1332,10 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                         break;
 
                 case ARG_NOTIFY_READY:
-                        r = parse_boolean(optarg);
+                        r = parse_boolean_argument("--notify-ready=", optarg, &arg_notify_ready);
                         if (r < 0)
-                                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
-                                                       "%s is not a valid notify mode. Valid modes are: yes, no, and ready.", optarg);
-                        arg_notify_ready = r;
+                                return r;
+
                         arg_settings_mask |= SETTING_NOTIFY_READY;
                         break;