diff --git a/playbooks/roles/xqueue/tasks/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/xqueue/tasks/main.yml
index 8e0b75cda..15c666348 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/xqueue/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/xqueue/tasks/main.yml
@@ -172,6 +172,17 @@
     - install
     - install:configuration
 
+# On jammy, useradd creates home dirs as 0750, which blocks automated users
+# (e.g. xqueue_mgmt_commands) from sourcing xqueue_env.
+- name: Ensure xqueue app directory is traversable
+  file:
+    path: "{{ xqueue_app_dir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: "0755"
+  tags:
+    - install
+    - install:base
+
 - name: setup the app env file
   template:
     src: "xqueue_env.j2"