diff --git a/systemd.spec b/systemd.spec
index 80232a5..cd67dae 100644
--- a/systemd.spec
+++ b/systemd.spec
@@ -906,10 +906,6 @@ systemd-machine-id-setup &>/dev/null || :
 
 [ $1 -eq 1 ] || exit 0
 
-# create /var/log/journal only on initial installation,
-# and only if it's writable (it won't be in rpm-ostree).
-[ -w %{_localstatedir} ] && mkdir -p %{_localstatedir}/log/journal
-
 [ -w %{_localstatedir} ] && journalctl --update-catalog || :
 systemd-sysusers || :
 systemd-tmpfiles --create &>/dev/null || :
@@ -1098,6 +1094,7 @@ rm -f %{name}.lang
 %changelog
 * Tue Jul 16 2024 systemd maintenance team <systemd-maint@redhat.com> - 256-4
 - reenable systemd-firstboot (RHEL-48822)
+- don't create /var/log/journal (RHEL-40924)
 
 * Mon Jul 08 2024 systemd maintenance team <systemd-maint@redhat.com> - 256-3
 - taint: remove unmerged-bin (RHEL-46277)