diff --git a/core/src/packaging/deb/init.d/elasticsearch b/core/src/packaging/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
index ad192157231..2f05b0b8431 100755
--- a/core/src/packaging/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/core/src/packaging/deb/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -151,7 +151,14 @@ case "$1" in
 
 	# Prepare environment
 	mkdir -p "$LOG_DIR" "$DATA_DIR" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$LOG_DIR" "$DATA_DIR"
-	touch "$PID_FILE" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$PID_FILE"
+
+    # Ensure that the PID_DIR exists (it is cleaned at OS startup time)
+    if [ -n "$PID_DIR" ] && [ ! -e "$PID_DIR" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$PID_DIR" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$PID_DIR"
+    fi
+    if [ -n "$PID_FILE" ] && [ ! -e "$PID_FILE" ]; then
+        touch "$PID_FILE" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$PID_FILE"
+    fi
 
 	if [ -n "$MAX_OPEN_FILES" ]; then
 		ulimit -n $MAX_OPEN_FILES
diff --git a/core/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch b/core/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
index 5fe9d748952..da3e5ac8b99 100644
--- a/core/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/core/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -99,6 +99,14 @@ start() {
     fi
     export ES_GC_LOG_FILE
 
+    # Ensure that the PID_DIR exists (it is cleaned at OS startup time)
+    if [ -n "$PID_DIR" ] && [ ! -e "$PID_DIR" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$PID_DIR" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$PID_DIR"
+    fi
+    if [ -n "$pidfile" ] && [ ! -e "$pidfile" ]; then
+        touch "$pidfile" && chown "$ES_USER":"$ES_GROUP" "$pidfile"
+    fi
+
     echo -n $"Starting $prog: "
     # if not running, start it up here, usually something like "daemon $exec"
     daemon --user $ES_USER --pidfile $pidfile $exec -p $pidfile -d -Des.default.path.home=$ES_HOME -Des.default.path.logs=$LOG_DIR -Des.default.path.data=$DATA_DIR -Des.default.path.conf=$CONF_DIR
diff --git a/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/50_systemd.bats b/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/60_systemd.bats
similarity index 85%
rename from core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/50_systemd.bats
rename to core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/60_systemd.bats
index addd4ff1ac7..011b063a161 100644
--- a/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/50_systemd.bats
+++ b/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/60_systemd.bats
@@ -144,3 +144,27 @@ setup() {
     run systemctl status elasticsearch.service
     echo "$output" | grep "Active:" | grep "inactive"
 }
+
+# Simulates the behavior of a system restart:
+# the PID directory is deleted by the operating system
+# but it should not block ES from starting
+# see https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/11594
+@test "[SYSTEMD] delete PID_DIR and restart" {
+    skip_not_systemd
+
+    run rm -rf /var/run/elasticsearch
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    run systemd-tmpfiles --create
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    run systemctl start elasticsearch.service
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    wait_for_elasticsearch_status
+
+    assert_file_exist "/var/run/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.pid"
+
+    run systemctl stop elasticsearch.service
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/70_sysv_initd.bats b/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/70_sysv_initd.bats
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0cd0d652c47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/70_sysv_initd.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+# This file is used to test the elasticsearch init.d scripts.
+
+# WARNING: This testing file must be executed as root and can
+# dramatically change your system. It removes the 'elasticsearch'
+# user/group and also many directories. Do not execute this file
+# unless you know exactly what you are doing.
+
+# The test case can be executed with the Bash Automated
+# Testing System tool available at https://github.com/sstephenson/bats
+# Thanks to Sam Stephenson!
+
+# Licensed to Elasticsearch under one or more contributor
+# license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
+# this work for additional information regarding copyright
+# ownership. Elasticsearch licenses this file to you under
+# the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+# Load test utilities
+load packaging_test_utils
+
+# Cleans everything for the 1st execution
+setup() {
+    if [ "$BATS_TEST_NUMBER" -eq 1 ]; then
+        clean_before_test
+    fi
+
+    # Installs a package before test
+    if is_dpkg; then
+        dpkg -i elasticsearch*.deb >&2 || true
+    fi
+    if is_rpm; then
+        rpm -i elasticsearch*.rpm >&2 || true
+    fi
+}
+
+@test "[INIT.D] start" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run service elasticsearch start
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    wait_for_elasticsearch_status
+
+    assert_file_exist "/var/run/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.pid"
+}
+
+@test "[INIT.D] status (running)" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run service elasticsearch status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+##################################
+# Check that Elasticsearch is working
+##################################
+@test "[INIT.D] test elasticsearch" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run_elasticsearch_tests
+}
+
+@test "[INIT.D] restart" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run service elasticsearch restart
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    wait_for_elasticsearch_status
+
+    run service elasticsearch status
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "[INIT.D] stop (running)" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run service elasticsearch stop
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+}
+
+@test "[INIT.D] status (stopped)" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run service elasticsearch status
+    [ "$status" -eq 3 ]
+}
+
+# Simulates the behavior of a system restart:
+# the PID directory is deleted by the operating system
+# but it should not block ES from starting
+# see https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/11594
+@test "[INIT.D] delete PID_DIR and restart" {
+    skip_not_sysvinit
+
+    run rm -rf /var/run/elasticsearch
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+
+    run service elasticsearch start
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+    wait_for_elasticsearch_status
+
+    assert_file_exist "/var/run/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.pid"
+
+    run service elasticsearch stop
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file