diff --git a/scripts/update-systemd-from-27-to-238.sh b/scripts/update-systemd-from-27-to-238.sh
index e2165df39..5e6c16ee9 100755
--- a/scripts/update-systemd-from-27-to-238.sh
+++ b/scripts/update-systemd-from-27-to-238.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ if ! { hostconfig mx64; }; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+if { systemd --version 2>&1 1>/dev/null; }; then
+	echo "systemd 238 is already running. Nothing to do."
+	exit 0
+fi
+
 bee remove sysvinit-2.88dsf-2.x86_64 udev-164-2.x86_64
 bee install -f systemd-238-0
 bee update -f dbus-1.12.4-0