diff --git a/rust/gateway/Cargo.toml b/rust/gateway/Cargo.toml
index fbb75fcdf..dcd7c55eb 100644
--- a/rust/gateway/Cargo.toml
+++ b/rust/gateway/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ assets = [
     ["debian/firezone-gateway.sysusers", "usr/lib/sysusers.d/firezone-gateway.conf", "644"],
     ["debian/firezone-gateway.tmpfiles", "usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/firezone-gateway.conf", "644"],
 ]
-depends = 'iptables'
+depends = 'iptables,systemd'
 
 [dependencies]
 anyhow = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/rust/gateway/debian/postinst b/rust/gateway/debian/postinst
index 661f7184a..421b116b2 100644
--- a/rust/gateway/debian/postinst
+++ b/rust/gateway/debian/postinst
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-# Script inspired by deb helper script from `cargo-deb`
-if [ "$1" = "configure" ] || [ "$1" = "abort-upgrade" ] || [ "$1" = "abort-deconfigure" ] || [ "$1" = "abort-remove" ]; then
-    # In case this system is running systemd, we need to ensure that all
-    # necessary users are created before starting.
-    if [ -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
-        systemd-sysusers firezone-gateway.conf >/dev/null || true
-    fi
-fi
+set -e
+
+systemd-sysusers firezone-gateway.conf
 
 #DEBHELPER#