diff --git a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
index 862f16f..7f7e1b7 100644
--- a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
+++ b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ with pkgs . kernelmaft ;
 					[Service]
 
 					ExecStartPre=${coreutils-full}/bin/ln -sf ${bookwyrm}/var/lib/bookwyrm/VERSION /var/lib/bookwyrm/
+					ExecStartPre=${coreutils-full}/bin/mkdir /run/bookwyrm
 					ExecStart=${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm
 
 					WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/bookwyrm