diff --git a/src/core/execute.c b/src/core/execute.c
index ed75035bf..2c17bd234 100644
--- a/src/core/execute.c
+++ b/src/core/execute.c
@@ -1600,7 +1600,8 @@ static int exec_child(ExecCommand *command,
                                 return -errno;
                         }
 
-                if (chdir(context->working_directory ? context->working_directory : "/") < 0) {
+                if (chdir(context->working_directory ?: "/") < 0 &&
+                    !context->working_directory_missing_ok) {
                         *error = EXIT_CHDIR;
                         return -errno;
                 }
diff --git a/src/core/execute.h b/src/core/execute.h
index c45dde53a..a9ad0d7ac 100644
--- a/src/core/execute.h
+++ b/src/core/execute.h
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ struct ExecContext {
 
         struct rlimit *rlimit[_RLIMIT_MAX];
         char *working_directory, *root_directory;
+        bool working_directory_missing_ok;
 
         mode_t umask;
         int oom_score_adjust;
diff --git a/src/core/unit.c b/src/core/unit.c
index 891df3cb0..7d52c41bd 100644
--- a/src/core/unit.c
+++ b/src/core/unit.c
@@ -3052,6 +3052,10 @@ int unit_patch_contexts(Unit *u) {
                         r = get_home_dir(&ec->working_directory);
                         if (r < 0)
                                 return r;
+
+                        /* Allow user services to run, even if the
+                         * home directory is missing */
+                        ec->working_directory_missing_ok = true;
                 }
 
                 if (u->manager->running_as == SYSTEMD_USER &&