diff --git a/dlls/advapi32/service.c b/dlls/advapi32/service.c
index 9161f9bbbe0..cc6a36c28d5 100644
--- a/dlls/advapi32/service.c
+++ b/dlls/advapi32/service.c
@@ -1535,7 +1535,8 @@ BOOL WINAPI StartServiceW(SC_HANDLE hService, DWORD dwNumServiceArgs,
 
     TRACE("returning %d\n", r);
 
-    service_wait_for_startup(hService);
+    if (r)
+        service_wait_for_startup(hService);
 
     return r;
 }