diff --git a/tests/base_services_start.pm b/tests/base_services_start.pm
index 1783f77f..bcb0853d 100644
--- a/tests/base_services_start.pm
+++ b/tests/base_services_start.pm
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@ sub run {
     }
     # switch to TTY3 for both, graphical and console tests
     $self->root_console(tty=>3);
-    validate_script_output 'systemctl --failed', sub { $_ =~ m/0 loaded units/ };
+    my $output = script_output 'systemctl --failed';
+    if ($output =~ /1 loaded units/ && $output =~ /mcelog.service/) {
+        record_soft_failure;
+    } elsif (! $output =~ /0 loaded units/) {
+        die "Services other than mcelog failed to load";
+    }
 }