diff --git a/ejabberd.service.template b/ejabberd.service.template
index 560a93265..a70d2254d 100644
--- a/ejabberd.service.template
+++ b/ejabberd.service.template
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ Group=ejabberd
 LimitNOFILE=65536
 Restart=on-failure
 RestartSec=5
-ExecStart=@ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl start
-ExecStop=@ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl stop
+ExecStart=/bin/sh -c '@ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl start && @ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl started'
+ExecStop=/bin/sh -c '@ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl stop && @ctlscriptpath@/ejabberdctl stopped'
 PrivateDevices=true
 ProtectSystem=full