diff --git a/scripts/distribute_molecule.py b/scripts/distribute_molecule.py
index 570073a..c95a682 100644
--- a/scripts/distribute_molecule.py
+++ b/scripts/distribute_molecule.py
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ MOLECULE_ROOT = Path("ansible/roles/gitea-runner/molecule")
 
 #: Supported OS platform matrix.
 #: Each entry maps a short name to (image, command).
+#: The command must be systemd since rootless Docker requires loginctl/systemctl --user.
 PLATFORMS: list[dict[str, str]] = [
-    {"name": "ubuntu-2204", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2204-ansible:latest", "command": ""},
-    {"name": "ubuntu-2404", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2404-ansible:latest", "command": ""},
-    {"name": "debian-12", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-debian12-ansible:latest", "command": ""},
+    {"name": "ubuntu-2204", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2204-ansible:latest", "command": "/lib/systemd/systemd"},
+    {"name": "ubuntu-2404", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2404-ansible:latest", "command": "/lib/systemd/systemd"},
+    {"name": "debian-12", "image": "geerlingguy/docker-debian12-ansible:latest", "command": "/lib/systemd/systemd"},
     {"name": "archlinux", "image": "marcstraube/archlinux-ansible:latest", "command": "/usr/lib/systemd/systemd"},
 ]
 
diff --git a/scripts/molecule_all.sh b/scripts/molecule_all.sh
index 051a594..0942502 100755
--- a/scripts/molecule_all.sh
+++ b/scripts/molecule_all.sh
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ MOLECULE_BIN="$(realpath "${BIN:-.venv/bin}/molecule")"
 ROLE_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)/ansible/roles/gitea-runner"
 
 for p in \
-    ubuntu-2204:geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2204-ansible:latest: \
-    ubuntu-2404:geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2404-ansible:latest: \
-    debian-12:geerlingguy/docker-debian12-ansible:latest: \
+    ubuntu-2204:geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2204-ansible:latest:/lib/systemd/systemd \
+    ubuntu-2404:geerlingguy/docker-ubuntu2404-ansible:latest:/lib/systemd/systemd \
+    debian-12:geerlingguy/docker-debian12-ansible:latest:/lib/systemd/systemd \
     archlinux:marcstraube/archlinux-ansible:latest:/usr/lib/systemd/systemd
 do
     IFS=":" read -r name image command <<< "$p"