diff --git a/gnu/services/databases.scm b/gnu/services/databases.scm
index 3b64d0e075..de1f6b8411 100644
--- a/gnu/services/databases.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/databases.scm
@@ -216,6 +216,14 @@ and stores the database cluster in @var{data-directory}."
          (home-directory "/var/empty")
          (shell (file-append shadow "/sbin/nologin")))))
 
+(define memcached-activation
+  #~(begin
+      (use-modules (guix build utils))
+      (let ((user (getpwnam "memcached")))
+        (mkdir-p "/var/run/memcached")
+        (chown "/var/run/memcached"
+               (passwd:uid user) (passwd:gid user)))))
+
 (define memcached-shepherd-service
   (match-lambda
     (($ <memcached-configuration> memcached interfaces tcp-port udp-port
@@ -233,11 +241,14 @@ and stores the database cluster in @var{data-directory}."
                           "-p" #$(number->string tcp-port)
                           "-U" #$(number->string udp-port)
                           "--daemon"
-                          "-P" "/var/run/memcached.pid"
+                          ;; Memcached changes to the memcached user prior to
+                          ;; writing the pid file, so write it to a directory
+                          ;; that memcached owns.
+                          "-P" "/var/run/memcached/pid"
                           "-u" "memcached"
                           ,#$@additional-options)
                         #:log-file "/var/log/memcached"
-                        #:pid-file "/var/run/memcached.pid"))
+                        #:pid-file "/var/run/memcached/pid"))
               (stop #~(make-kill-destructor))))))))
 
 (define memcached-service-type
@@ -245,6 +256,8 @@ and stores the database cluster in @var{data-directory}."
                 (extensions
                  (list (service-extension shepherd-root-service-type
                                           memcached-shepherd-service)
+                       (service-extension activation-service-type
+                                          (const memcached-activation))
                        (service-extension account-service-type
                                           (const %memcached-accounts))))
                 (default-value (memcached-configuration))))
diff --git a/gnu/tests/databases.scm b/gnu/tests/databases.scm
index 310210c368..9d9a753747 100644
--- a/gnu/tests/databases.scm
+++ b/gnu/tests/databases.scm
@@ -63,13 +63,15 @@
           (test-begin "memcached")
 
           ;; Wait for memcached to be up and running.
-          (test-eq "service running"
-            'running!
+          (test-assert "service running"
             (marionette-eval
              '(begin
                 (use-modules (gnu services herd))
-                (start-service 'memcached)
-                'running!)
+                (match (start-service 'memcached)
+                  (#f #f)
+                  (('service response-parts ...)
+                   (match (assq-ref response-parts 'running)
+                     ((pid) (number? pid))))))
              marionette))
 
           (let* ((ai (car (getaddrinfo "localhost"