diff --git a/src/run/run.c b/src/run/run.c
index ff24373847..eaa95b1cb2 100644
--- a/src/run/run.c
+++ b/src/run/run.c
@@ -1531,6 +1531,9 @@ static int start_transient_scope(sd_bus *bus) {
                         return log_error_errno(errno, "Failed to change UID to " UID_FMT ": %m", uid);
         }
 
+        if (arg_working_directory && chdir(arg_working_directory) < 0)
+                return log_error_errno(errno, "Failed to change directory to '%s': %m", arg_working_directory);
+
         env = strv_env_merge(environ, user_env, arg_environment);
         if (!env)
                 return log_oom();