diff --git a/modules/ros1/nodes.nix b/modules/ros1/nodes.nix
index c327253a24..1859fbf554 100644
--- a/modules/ros1/nodes.nix
+++ b/modules/ros1/nodes.nix
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ let
     serviceConfig = {
       Type = "exec";
       StateDirectory = "ros";
+      WorkingDirectory = "/var/lib/ros";
       User = "ros";
       Group = "ros";
       ExecStart = execStartFn config;
diff --git a/modules/ros2/nodes.nix b/modules/ros2/nodes.nix
index dbce6cbc43..157bec8b3c 100644
--- a/modules/ros2/nodes.nix
+++ b/modules/ros2/nodes.nix
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ let
     serviceConfig = {
       Type = "exec";
       StateDirectory = "ros";
+      WorkingDirectory = "/var/lib/ros";
       User = "ros";
       Group = "ros";
       ExecStart = execStartFn config;