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 0fc73f9e6..c9625e19d 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
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ WorkingDirectory=${{chdir}}
 ExecStart=${{chdir}}/bin/${{exec}}
 Restart=always
 RestartSec=${{retryTimeout}}
+User=${{daemon_user}}
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target