diff --git a/zuul/ansible/filter/zuul_filters.py b/zuul/ansible/filter/zuul_filters.py
index 4304d511fd..17ef2bbc22 100644
--- a/zuul/ansible/filter/zuul_filters.py
+++ b/zuul/ansible/filter/zuul_filters.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def zuul_legacy_vars(zuul):
                   ZUUL_SHORT_PROJECT_NAME=short_name,
                   ZUUL_PIPELINE=zuul['pipeline'],
                   ZUUL_VOTING=zuul['voting'],
-                  WORKSPACE='/home/zuul')
+                  WORKSPACE='/home/zuul/workspace')
     if 'branch' in zuul:
         params['ZUUL_BRANCH'] = zuul['branch']
 
diff --git a/zuul/cmd/migrate.py b/zuul/cmd/migrate.py
index cb6e2271ed..3ab3902e07 100644
--- a/zuul/cmd/migrate.py
+++ b/zuul/cmd/migrate.py
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ class Job:
             if scpfile.get('copy-console'):
                 continue
             else:
-                src = "{{ ansible_user_dir }}/"
+                src = "{{ ansible_user_dir }}/workspace/"
                 rsync_opts = self._getRsyncOptions(scpfile['source'])
 
             target = scpfile['target']
@@ -705,6 +705,7 @@ class Job:
         task['shell']['cmd'] = data
         if shell:
             task['shell']['executable'] = shell
+        task['shell']['chdir'] = '{{ ansible_user_dir }}/workspace'
 
         if syntax_check:
             # Emit a test playbook with this shell task in it then run
@@ -761,6 +762,7 @@ class Job:
             task = self._emitScriptContent(
                 builder['shell'], playbook_dir, sequence)
         task['environment'] = ENVIRONMENT
+
         return task
 
     def _transformPublishers(self, jjb_job):
@@ -806,7 +808,15 @@ class Job:
 
         run_playbook = os.path.join(self.job_path, 'run.yaml')
         post_playbook = os.path.join(self.job_path, 'post.yaml')
+
         tasks = []
+        workspace_task = collections.OrderedDict()
+        workspace_task['name'] = "Ensure legacy workspace directory"
+        workspace_task['file'] = collections.OrderedDict()
+        workspace_task['file']['path'] = '{{ ansible_user_dir }}/workspace'
+        workspace_task['file']['state'] = 'directory'
+        tasks.append(workspace_task)
+
         sequence = 0
         for builder in self.jjb_job.get('builders', []):
             if 'shell' in builder: