diff --git a/packages/bsp/common/usr/lib/armbian/armbian-firstlogin b/packages/bsp/common/usr/lib/armbian/armbian-firstlogin
index 0c4d90aeb8..819a13ca43 100755
--- a/packages/bsp/common/usr/lib/armbian/armbian-firstlogin
+++ b/packages/bsp/common/usr/lib/armbian/armbian-firstlogin
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ if [[ -f /root/.not_logged_in_yet && -n $(tty) ]]; then
 	# re-enable passing locale environment via ssh
 	sed -e '/^#AcceptEnv LANG/ s/^#//' -i /etc/ssh/sshd_config
 	# restart sshd daemon
-	systemctl reload ssh.service
+	systemctl reload-or-restart ssh.service
 
 	# rpardini: hacks per-dm, very much legacy stuff that works by a miracle
 	if [[ "${desktop_dm}" == "lightdm" ]] && [ -n "$RealName" ]; then