diff --git a/src/home/homework-blob.c b/src/home/homework-blob.c
index 6b22ab6f24..0ad2941539 100644
--- a/src/home/homework-blob.c
+++ b/src/home/homework-blob.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ int home_reconcile_blob_dirs(UserRecord *h, int root_fd, int reconciled) {
         if (reconciled == USER_RECONCILE_IDENTICAL)
                 return 0;
 
-        sys_base_dfd = open(home_system_blob_dir(), O_RDONLY|O_DIRECTORY|O_CLOEXEC|O_NOFOLLOW);
+        sys_base_dfd = open(home_system_blob_dir(), O_PATH|O_DIRECTORY|O_CLOEXEC|O_NOFOLLOW);
         if (sys_base_dfd < 0)
                 return log_error_errno(errno, "Failed to open system blob dir: %m");