diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-message.c b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-message.c
index 95a87da08b..c756a25add 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-message.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-bus/bus-message.c
@@ -2646,7 +2646,7 @@ _public_ int sd_bus_message_append_array_memfd(
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        copy_fd = dup(memfd);
+        copy_fd = fcntl(memfd, F_DUPFD_CLOEXEC, 3);
         if (copy_fd < 0)
                 return copy_fd;
 
@@ -2721,7 +2721,7 @@ _public_ int sd_bus_message_append_string_memfd(
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        copy_fd = dup(memfd);
+        copy_fd = fcntl(memfd, FD_CLOEXEC, 3);
         if (copy_fd < 0)
                 return copy_fd;