diff --git a/contrib/package/arch/copyparty-user.service b/contrib/package/arch/copyparty-user.service
index c0356e34..ab29e547 100644
--- a/contrib/package/arch/copyparty-user.service
+++ b/contrib/package/arch/copyparty-user.service
@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ Description=copyparty file server
 [Service]
 Type=notify
 SyslogIdentifier=copyparty
-Environment=PYTHONUNBUFFERED=x
 WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/copyparty-jail
+Environment=PYTHONUNBUFFERED=x
+Environment=PRTY_CONFIG=%h/.config/copyparty/copyparty.conf
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -s USR1 $MAINPID
 
+# exit if user config doesn't exist
+ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c 'if [[ ! -f "$PRTY_CONFIG" ]] ||; then echo "Config file ${PRTY_CONFIG} not found"; exit 1; fi'
+
 # run copyparty
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/copyparty -c %h/.config/copyparty/copyparty.conf
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/copyparty
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=default.target
diff --git a/contrib/package/arch/prisonparty-user.service b/contrib/package/arch/prisonparty-user.service
index 884a5451..fd38d1f4 100644
--- a/contrib/package/arch/prisonparty-user.service
+++ b/contrib/package/arch/prisonparty-user.service
@@ -13,16 +13,21 @@
 Description=copyparty file server
 
 [Service]
+Type=notify
 SyslogIdentifier=prisonparty
-Environment=PYTHONUNBUFFERED=x
 WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/copyparty-jail
+Environment=PYTHONUNBUFFERED=x
+Environment=PRTY_CONFIG=%h/.config/copyparty/copyparty.conf
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -s USR1 $MAINPID
 
+# exit if user config doesn't exist
+ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c 'if [[ ! -f "$PRTY_CONFIG" ]] ||; then echo "Config file ${PRTY_CONFIG} not found"; exit 1; fi'
+
 # run copyparty
 ExecStart=/bin/bash /usr/bin/prisonparty /var/lib/copyparty-jail %u %u \
   %h/.config/copyparty \
   -- \
-  /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/copyparty -c %h/.config/copyparty/copyparty.conf
+  /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/copyparty
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=default.target