diff --git a/contrib/dockerd-rootless.sh b/contrib/dockerd-rootless.sh
index 08ef9ba8ce..3643a2a1c6 100755
--- a/contrib/dockerd-rootless.sh
+++ b/contrib/dockerd-rootless.sh
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ if ! [ -w $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR ]; then
 	echo "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR needs to be set and writable"
 	exit 1
 fi
-if ! [ -w $HOME ]; then
-	echo "HOME needs to be set and writable"
+if ! [ -d $HOME ]; then
+	echo "HOME needs to be set and exist."
 	exit 1
 fi