diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index ba30254..290a7e2 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -118,13 +118,21 @@ forgejo_systemd_hardening_file: '/etc/systemd/system/{{ forgejo_service_name }}.
 forgejo_systemd_read_write_paths: []
 # Paths to hide from the service entirely (InaccessiblePaths=)
 forgejo_systemd_inaccessible_paths: []
-# ProtectHome= empties /home, /root and /run/user. It is safe ONLY while the
-# builtin SSH server is in use: forgejo then never writes
-# <git_home>/.ssh/authorized_keys (models/asymkey returns immediately when
-# START_SSH_SERVER is on) and only reads $HOME, which it never stats.
+# ProtectHome= hides /home, /root and /run/user. Two things decide the value:
+#
+#   * 'tmpfs' and NOT 'true', because the postgres driver looks for client
+#     certificates in $HOME/.postgresql/ on every TLS connection. With 'true'
+#     that stat returns EACCES and forgejo dies with
+#     "stat /home/git/.postgresql/postgresql.crt: permission denied", after ten
+#     connection attempts that say nothing about systemd. 'tmpfs' gives the
+#     same empty home and answers ENOENT, which the driver ignores.
+#   * hiding the home at all is safe ONLY while the builtin SSH server is in
+#     use: forgejo then never writes <git_home>/.ssh/authorized_keys
+#     (models/asymkey returns immediately when START_SSH_SERVER is on).
+#
 # ReadWritePaths= does NOT punch a hole through ProtectHome= (verified on
 # systemd 255), so with system sshd serving git this has to be false.
-forgejo_systemd_protect_home: "{{ 'true' if (server_START_SSH_SERVER | default('true') | bool) else 'false' }}"
+forgejo_systemd_protect_home: "{{ 'tmpfs' if (server_START_SSH_SERVER | default('true') | bool) else 'false' }}"
 # PrivateUsers= maps only root and the service user; every other uid becomes
 # nobody. Turn it off if forgejo has to reach a file owned by a third user, or
 # if the service user needs supplementary groups.
diff --git a/templates/forgejo-hardening.conf.j2 b/templates/forgejo-hardening.conf.j2
index f583fb1..0b2887d 100644
--- a/templates/forgejo-hardening.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/forgejo-hardening.conf.j2
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ CapabilityBoundingSet=
 # The whole filesystem read only except the paths below. Every one of them must
 # exist, or systemd fails the namespace and forgejo never starts (226/NAMESPACE).
 ProtectSystem=strict
+# 'tmpfs' rather than 'true': an empty home either way, but a missing file
+# under it answers ENOENT instead of EACCES, and the postgres driver stats
+# $HOME/.postgresql/postgresql.crt on every TLS connection.
 ProtectHome={{ forgejo_systemd_protect_home }}
 ReadWritePaths={{ ([forgejo_work_dir, forgejo_repository_data] + forgejo_systemd_read_write_paths) | unique | map('quote') | join(' ') }}
 {% if forgejo_systemd_inaccessible_paths | length > 0 %}