diff --git a/distro/pkg/rpm/bird.service b/distro/pkg/rpm/bird.service
index fa203c78..26bcb8a0 100644
--- a/distro/pkg/rpm/bird.service
+++ b/distro/pkg/rpm/bird.service
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ After=network.target
 
 [Service]
 Type=simple
+ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/bird -p
 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/bird -f -u bird -g bird
-ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID
+ExecReload=/usr/sbin/birdc configure
 Restart=on-failure
 
 [Install]