--- a/src/applet-agent.c
+++ b/src/applet-agent.c
@@ -299,6 +299,10 @@
 		                             "The secrets request was canceled by the user");
 		g_error_free (search_error);
 		goto done;
+	} else if (   g_error_matches (search_error, G_DBUS_ERROR, G_DBUS_ERROR_SERVICE_UNKNOWN)
+	          && (r->flags & NM_SECRET_AGENT_GET_SECRETS_FLAG_ALLOW_INTERACTION)
+	          && g_list_length (list) == 0) {
+		g_error_free (search_error);
 	} else if (search_error) {
 		error = g_error_new (NM_SECRET_AGENT_ERROR,
 		                     NM_SECRET_AGENT_ERROR_FAILED,
