diff --git a/src/core/service.c b/src/core/service.c
index d5f79d274e..f346e38b66 100644
--- a/src/core/service.c
+++ b/src/core/service.c
@@ -2783,9 +2783,6 @@ static int service_deserialize_exec_command(
                 case STATE_EXEC_COMMAND_PATH:
                         path = TAKE_PTR(arg);
                         state = STATE_EXEC_COMMAND_ARGS;
-
-                        if (!path_is_absolute(path))
-                                return -EINVAL;
                         break;
                 case STATE_EXEC_COMMAND_ARGS:
                         r = strv_extend(&argv, arg);