diff --git a/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service b/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service
index d164e8ce1f..8f5c44c9d4 100644
--- a/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service
+++ b/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Type=notify
 NotifyAccess=main
 User=matrix-synapse
 WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/matrix-synapse
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/matrix-synapse
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/matrix-synapse
 ExecStart=/opt/venvs/matrix-synapse/bin/python -m synapse.app.generic_worker --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/homeserver.yaml --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/conf.d/ --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/workers/%i.yaml
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID
 Restart=always
diff --git a/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service b/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service
index f6b6dfd3ce..0c73fb55fb 100644
--- a/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service
+++ b/develop/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Type=notify
 NotifyAccess=main
 User=matrix-synapse
 WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/matrix-synapse
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/matrix-synapse
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/matrix-synapse
 ExecStartPre=/opt/venvs/matrix-synapse/bin/python -m synapse.app.homeserver --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/homeserver.yaml --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/conf.d/ --generate-keys
 ExecStart=/opt/venvs/matrix-synapse/bin/python -m synapse.app.homeserver --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/homeserver.yaml --config-path=/etc/matrix-synapse/conf.d/
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID