diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index 14e430a340926b..e857a454499ed2 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -2393,11 +2393,11 @@ static int systemd_timer_write_timer_file(enum schedule_priority schedule,
 
 	switch (schedule) {
 	case SCHEDULE_HOURLY:
-		schedule_pattern = xstrfmt("*-*-* *:%02d:00", minute);
+		schedule_pattern = xstrfmt("*-*-* 1..23:%02d:00", minute);
 		break;
 
 	case SCHEDULE_DAILY:
-		schedule_pattern = xstrfmt("*-*-* 0:%02d:00", minute);
+		schedule_pattern = xstrfmt("Tue..Sun *-*-* 0:%02d:00", minute);
 		break;
 
 	case SCHEDULE_WEEKLY: