diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
index be5a6dc4..c2a72598 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
@@ -91,7 +91,9 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 		try:
 			args['flags'] = int(kwargs.pop('journalflags'))
 		except KeyError:
-			args['flags'] = 4
+			# be sure all journal types will be opened if files specified (don't set flags):
+			if 'files' not in args or not len(args['files']):
+				args['flags'] = 4
 
 		return args
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
index b8e0e04a..46a0d0b5 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
@@ -1280,6 +1280,11 @@ def get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(Filter_): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			jrnlfile = self._getRuntimeJournal()
 			self._initFilter(journalfiles=jrnlfile)
 
+		def testJournalFilesAndFlagsArgs(self):
+			# retrieve current system journal path
+			jrnlfile = self._getRuntimeJournal()
+			self._initFilter(journalfiles=jrnlfile, journalflags=0)
+
 		def testJournalPathArg(self):
 			# retrieve current system journal path
 			jrnlpath = self._getRuntimeJournal()