diff --git a/src/unix/linux/inotify.c b/src/unix/linux/inotify.c
index 609be973..2e905685 100644
--- a/src/unix/linux/inotify.c
+++ b/src/unix/linux/inotify.c
@@ -156,11 +156,16 @@ static void uv__inotify_read(EV_P_ ev_io* w, int revents);
 
 
 static int new_inotify_fd(void) {
-#if HAVE_INOTIFY_INIT1
-  return inotify_init1(IN_NONBLOCK | IN_CLOEXEC);
-#else
   int fd;
 
+#if HAVE_INOTIFY_INIT1
+  fd = inotify_init1(IN_NONBLOCK | IN_CLOEXEC);
+  if (fd != -1)
+    return fd;
+  if (errno != ENOSYS)
+    return -1;
+#endif
+
   if ((fd = inotify_init()) == -1)
     return -1;
 
@@ -170,7 +175,6 @@ static int new_inotify_fd(void) {
   }
 
   return fd;
-#endif
 }