diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse-worker@.service.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse-worker@.service.j2
index a46517c4..d82564c4 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse-worker@.service.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/systemd/matrix-synapse-worker@.service.j2
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # c.f. https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/pull/4662
 [Unit]
 Description=Synapse Matrix Worker
+AssertPathExists={{matrix_synapse_config_dir_path }}/worker.%i.yaml
 After=matrix-synapse.service
 BindsTo=matrix-synapse.service