diff --git a/udev-md-raid.rules b/udev-md-raid.rules
index 814c897..da9d3c5 100644
--- a/udev-md-raid.rules
+++ b/udev-md-raid.rules
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ ENV{DEVTYPE}=="partition", GOTO="md_ignore_state"
 # container devices have a metadata version of e.g. 'external:ddf' and
 # never leave state 'inactive'
 ATTR{md/metadata_version}=="external:[A-Za-z]*", ATTR{md/array_state}=="inactive", GOTO="md_ignore_state"
-TEST!="md/array_state", GOTO="md_end"
+TEST!="md/array_state", ENV{SYSTEMD_READY}="0", GOTO="md_end"
 ATTR{md/array_state}=="|clear|inactive", ENV{SYSTEMD_READY}="0", GOTO="md_end"
 LABEL="md_ignore_state"