diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/kea.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/kea.nix
index 945f4113bd47..5ca705976c41 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/kea.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/kea.nix
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ in
       User = "kea";
       ConfigurationDirectory = "kea";
       RuntimeDirectory = "kea";
+      RuntimeDirectoryPreserve = true;
       StateDirectory = "kea";
       UMask = "0077";
     };