diff --git a/changelog.d/6369.doc b/changelog.d/6369.doc
deleted file mode 100644
index 6db351d7db..0000000000
--- a/changelog.d/6369.doc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Update documentation and variables in user contributed systemd reference file.
diff --git a/contrib/systemd/README.md b/contrib/systemd/README.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 5d42b3464f..0000000000
--- a/contrib/systemd/README.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-# Setup Synapse with Systemd
-This is a setup for managing synapse with a user contributed systemd unit 
-file. It provides a `matrix-synapse` systemd unit file that should be tailored 
-to accommodate your installation in accordance with the installation 
-instructions provided in [installation instructions](../../INSTALL.md).
-
-## Setup
-1. Under the service section, ensure the `User` variable matches which user
-you installed synapse under and wish to run it as. 
-2. Under the service section, ensure the `WorkingDirectory` variable matches
-where you have installed synapse.
-3. Under the service section, ensure the `ExecStart` variable matches the
-appropriate locations of your installation.
-4. Copy the `matrix-synapse.service` to `/etc/systemd/system/`
-5. Start Synapse: `sudo systemctl start matrix-synapse`
-6. Verify Synapse is running: `sudo systemctl status matrix-synapse`
-7. *optional* Enable Synapse to start at system boot: `sudo systemctl enable matrix-synapse`
diff --git a/contrib/systemd/matrix-synapse.service b/contrib/systemd/matrix-synapse.service
index bd492544b6..38d369ea3d 100644
--- a/contrib/systemd/matrix-synapse.service
+++ b/contrib/systemd/matrix-synapse.service
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 #    systemctl enable matrix-synapse
 #    systemctl start matrix-synapse
 #
-# This assumes that Synapse has been installed by a user named
-# synapse.
-#
 # This assumes that Synapse has been installed in a virtualenv in
-# the user's home directory: `/home/synapse/synapse/env`.
+# /opt/synapse/env.
 #
 # **NOTE:** This is an example service file that may change in the future. If you
 # wish to use this please copy rather than symlink it.
@@ -26,7 +23,7 @@ User=synapse
 Group=nogroup
 
 WorkingDirectory=/opt/synapse
-ExecStart=/home/synapse/synapse/env/bin/python -m synapse.app.homeserver --config-path=/home/synapse/synapse/homeserver.yaml
+ExecStart=/opt/synapse/env/bin/python -m synapse.app.homeserver --config-path=/opt/synapse/homeserver.yaml
 SyslogIdentifier=matrix-synapse
 
 # adjust the cache factor if necessary