diff --git a/contrib/systemd/haproxy.service.in b/contrib/systemd/haproxy.service.in
index 1a3d2c0..9b3b72a 100644
--- a/contrib/systemd/haproxy.service.in
+++ b/contrib/systemd/haproxy.service.in
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ Description=HAProxy Load Balancer
 After=network.target
 
 [Service]
+ExecStartPre=@SBINDIR@/haproxy -f /etc/haproxy/haproxy.cfg -c -q
 ExecStart=@SBINDIR@/haproxy-systemd-wrapper -f /etc/haproxy/haproxy.cfg -p /run/haproxy.pid
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -USR2 $MAINPID
 Restart=always