diff --git a/units/systemd-nspawn@.service.in b/units/systemd-nspawn@.service.in
index 8c0685aef5..5e80054a57 100644
--- a/units/systemd-nspawn@.service.in
+++ b/units/systemd-nspawn@.service.in
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Documentation=man:systemd-nspawn(1)
 PartOf=machines.target
 Before=machines.target
 After=network.target systemd-resolved.service
+RequiresMountsFor=/var/lib/machines
 
 [Service]
 ExecStart=@bindir@/systemd-nspawn --quiet --keep-unit --boot --link-journal=try-guest --network-veth -U --settings=override --machine=%i