diff --git a/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/java_server/systemloader/systemd/start-template b/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/java_server/systemloader/systemd/start-template
index c9625e19d..3add38652 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/java_server/systemloader/systemd/start-template
+++ b/src/main/resources/com/typesafe/sbt/packager/archetypes/java_server/systemloader/systemd/start-template
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ ExecStart=${{chdir}}/bin/${{exec}}
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=${{retryTimeout}}
 User=${{daemon_user}}
+ExecStartPre=/bin/mkdir -p /run/${{app_name}}
+ExecStartPre=/bin/chown ${{daemon_user}}:${{daemon_group}} /run/${{app_name}}
+ExecStartPre=/bin/chmod 755 /run/${{app_name}}
+PermissionsStartOnly=true
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target