diff --git a/.changelog/12176.txt b/.changelog/12176.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81e7f669d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/12176.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:enhancement
+systemd: Support starting/stopping the systemd service for linux packages when the optional EnvironmentFile does not exist.
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.release/linux/package/usr/lib/systemd/system/consul.service b/.release/linux/package/usr/lib/systemd/system/consul.service
index bde1210aae..1bbf51a7a1 100644
--- a/.release/linux/package/usr/lib/systemd/system/consul.service
+++ b/.release/linux/package/usr/lib/systemd/system/consul.service
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ After=network-online.target
 ConditionFileNotEmpty=/etc/consul.d/consul.hcl
 
 [Service]
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/consul.d/consul.env
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/consul.d/consul.env
 User=consul
 Group=consul
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/consul agent -config-dir=/etc/consul.d/