diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fa0f3512c6d..2e0b6e9ae8b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,11 +30,15 @@ NOTE: Add new changes BELOW THIS COMMENT.
 ### Changed
 
 - Frontend rewritten in TypeScript.
+- The `systemd`-based service now uses `journal` for logging by default.  It
+  also doesn't create the `/var/log/` directory anymore ([#7053]).
 
 ### Deprecated
 
 - Node 18 support, Node 20 will be required in future releases.
 
+[#7053]: https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/issues/7053
+
 <!--
 NOTE: Add new changes ABOVE THIS COMMENT.
 -->
diff --git a/internal/home/service.go b/internal/home/service.go
index 30bef2a7c14..1d87f162fc1 100644
--- a/internal/home/service.go
+++ b/internal/home/service.go
@@ -471,7 +471,6 @@ ConditionFileIsExecutable={{.Path|cmdEscape}}
 [Service]
 StartLimitInterval=5
 StartLimitBurst=10
-ExecStartPre=/bin/mkdir -p /var/log/
 ExecStart={{.Path|cmdEscape}}{{range .Arguments}} {{.|cmd}}{{end}}
 {{if .ChRoot}}RootDirectory={{.ChRoot|cmd}}{{end}}
 {{if .WorkingDirectory}}WorkingDirectory={{.WorkingDirectory|cmdEscape}}{{end}}
@@ -479,8 +478,8 @@ ExecStart={{.Path|cmdEscape}}{{range .Arguments}} {{.|cmd}}{{end}}
 {{if .ReloadSignal}}ExecReload=/bin/kill -{{.ReloadSignal}} "$MAINPID"{{end}}
 {{if .PIDFile}}PIDFile={{.PIDFile|cmd}}{{end}}
 {{if and .LogOutput .HasOutputFileSupport -}}
-StandardOutput=file:/var/log/{{.Name}}.out
-StandardError=file:/var/log/{{.Name}}.err
+StandardOutput=journal
+StandardError=journal
 {{- end}}
 {{if gt .LimitNOFILE -1 }}LimitNOFILE={{.LimitNOFILE}}{{end}}
 {{if .Restart}}Restart={{.Restart}}{{end}}