diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 704dca3..81a9919 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -70,3 +70,7 @@ __sshd_defaults: {}
 __sshd_os_supported: no
 __sshd_sysconfig_supports_crypto_policy: false
 __sshd_sysconfig_supports_use_strong_rng: false
+
+
+__sshd_runtime_directory: false
+__sshd_runtime_directory_mode: "0755"
diff --git a/tasks/install.yml b/tasks/install.yml
index 45bbf8c..f357ee7 100644
--- a/tasks/install.yml
+++ b/tasks/install.yml
@@ -84,6 +84,16 @@
       changed_when: False
       when: sshd_test_hostkey.path is defined
 
+    - name: Make sure sshd runtime directory is present
+      file:
+        path: "{{ __sshd_runtime_directory }}"
+        state: directory
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "{{ __sshd_runtime_directory_mode }}"
+      when:
+        - __sshd_runtime_directory | d(false) | bool
+
     - name: Create the configuration file
       template:
         src: sshd_config.j2
diff --git a/vars/Debian.yml b/vars/Debian.yml
index a95c39b..4aed470 100644
--- a/vars/Debian.yml
+++ b/vars/Debian.yml
@@ -34,3 +34,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   Subsystem: "sftp {{ sshd_sftp_server }}"
   UsePAM: yes
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd
diff --git a/vars/Debian_10.yml b/vars/Debian_10.yml
index cca5691..17c00a7 100644
--- a/vars/Debian_10.yml
+++ b/vars/Debian_10.yml
@@ -32,3 +32,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   Subsystem: "sftp {{ sshd_sftp_server }}"
   UsePAM: yes
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd
diff --git a/vars/Debian_8.yml b/vars/Debian_8.yml
index f559c00..c5cace0 100644
--- a/vars/Debian_8.yml
+++ b/vars/Debian_8.yml
@@ -36,3 +36,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   Subsystem: "sftp {{ sshd_sftp_server }}"
   UsePAM: yes
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd
diff --git a/vars/Debian_9.yml b/vars/Debian_9.yml
index 10745d2..dc31e01 100644
--- a/vars/Debian_9.yml
+++ b/vars/Debian_9.yml
@@ -32,3 +32,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   Subsystem: "sftp {{ sshd_sftp_server }}"
   UsePAM: yes
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd
diff --git a/vars/Ubuntu_18.yml b/vars/Ubuntu_18.yml
index da8a005..46a500a 100644
--- a/vars/Ubuntu_18.yml
+++ b/vars/Ubuntu_18.yml
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   AcceptEnv: LANG LC_*
   Subsystem: "sftp {{ sshd_sftp_server }}"
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd
diff --git a/vars/Ubuntu_20.yml b/vars/Ubuntu_20.yml
index a60fba4..57a6057 100644
--- a/vars/Ubuntu_20.yml
+++ b/vars/Ubuntu_20.yml
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@ __sshd_defaults:
   AcceptEnv: LANG LC_*
   Subsystem: "sftp  /usr/lib/openssh/sftp-server"
 __sshd_os_supported: yes
+__sshd_runtime_directory: /run/sshd