diff --git a/.changelog/12176.txt b/.changelog/12176.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81e7f669d
--- /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