diff --git a/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh/sshd.service b/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh/sshd.service
index 6ace67d8ae..2a997b656a 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh/sshd.service
+++ b/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh/sshd.service
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ After=sshdgenkeys.service
 [Service]
 Environment="SSHD_OPTS="
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/default/ssh
-ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/mkdir -p /var/run/sshd
+ExecStartPre=@BASE_BINDIR@/mkdir -p /var/run/sshd
 ExecStart=-@SBINDIR@/sshd -D $SSHD_OPTS
 ExecReload=@BASE_BINDIR@/kill -HUP $MAINPID
 KillMode=process