diff --git a/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-cache.service.in b/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-cache.service.in
index 9d677f8dda38..726c468ca30c 100644
--- a/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-cache.service.in
+++ b/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-cache.service.in
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ ConditionPathExists=@sysconfdir@/zfs/zpool.cache
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot
 RemainAfterExit=yes
-ExecStartPre=/sbin/modprobe zfs
+ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe zfs
 ExecStart=@sbindir@/zpool import -c @sysconfdir@/zfs/zpool.cache -aN
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-scan.service.in b/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-scan.service.in
index 227f5b74f36e..abc8e8e6d94a 100644
--- a/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-scan.service.in
+++ b/etc/systemd/system/zfs-import-scan.service.in
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ConditionPathExists=!@sysconfdir@/zfs/zpool.cache
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot
 RemainAfterExit=yes
-ExecStartPre=/sbin/modprobe zfs
+ExecStartPre=-/sbin/modprobe zfs
 ExecStart=@sbindir@/zpool import -aN -o cachefile=none
 
 [Install]