diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index ceafdabd2d00..7e41bde8586d 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ matrix-synapse-py3 (1.47.0+nmu1) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
   * Remove unused Vagrant scripts from debian/ directory.
   * Change package Architecture to any.
   * Preinstall the "wheel" package when building virtualenvs.
+  * Do not error if /etc/default/matrix-synapse is missing.
 
  -- root <root@cae79a6e79d7>  Fri, 22 Oct 2021 22:20:31 +0000
 
diff --git a/debian/matrix-synapse.service b/debian/matrix-synapse.service
index 553babf5492d..bde1c6cb9fd9 100644
--- a/debian/matrix-synapse.service
+++ b/debian/matrix-synapse.service
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Description=Synapse Matrix homeserver
 Type=notify
 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
diff --git a/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service b/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service
index d164e8ce1f88..8f5c44c9d4ef 100644
--- a/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse-worker@.service
+++ b/docs/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/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service b/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service
index f6b6dfd3ce8e..0c73fb55fb57 100644
--- a/docs/systemd-with-workers/system/matrix-synapse.service
+++ b/docs/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