diff --git a/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh b/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
index 3c5a5de..017d7e9 100755
--- a/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
+++ b/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ install -Dm0644 scripts/60-punktfunk.rules         "$STAGE/usr/lib/udev/rules.d/
 # and high-bitrate frames overflow it (send-side packet loss). systemd-sysctl applies it at boot.
 install -Dm0644 scripts/99-punktfunk-net.conf      "$STAGE/usr/lib/sysctl.d/99-punktfunk-net.conf"
 install -Dm0644 scripts/punktfunk-host.service     "$STAGE/usr/lib/systemd/user/punktfunk-host.service"
+# The source unit's ExecStart points at the dev source tree; a packaged install has the binary at
+# /usr/bin. Rewrite it so a fresh apt install (no hand-rolled unit) starts the installed binary.
+sed -i 's#%h/punktfunk/target/release/punktfunk-host#/usr/bin/punktfunk-host#' \
+    "$STAGE/usr/lib/systemd/user/punktfunk-host.service"
 install -Dm0755 scripts/headless/run-headless-kde.sh   "$SHAREDIR/headless/run-headless-kde.sh"
 install -Dm0755 scripts/headless/run-headless-sway.sh  "$SHAREDIR/headless/run-headless-sway.sh"
 install -Dm0644 scripts/host.env.example           "$SHAREDIR/host.env.example"
diff --git a/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec b/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
index b8b3027..e81d10e 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
+++ b/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ install -Dm0644 scripts/99-punktfunk-net.conf %{buildroot}%{_prefix}/lib/sysctl.
 
 # systemd *user* unit (the host runs in the graphical session, not as root).
 install -Dm0644 scripts/punktfunk-host.service %{buildroot}%{_userunitdir}/punktfunk-host.service
+# The source unit's ExecStart points at the dev source tree; a packaged install has the binary at
+# %{_bindir}. Rewrite it so a fresh install (no hand-rolled unit) starts the installed binary.
+sed -i 's#%h/punktfunk/target/release/punktfunk-host#%{_bindir}/punktfunk-host#' %{buildroot}%{_userunitdir}/punktfunk-host.service
 
 # --- client subpackage ---
 install -Dm0755 target/release/punktfunk-client %{buildroot}%{_bindir}/punktfunk-client