diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index 31ac4514e..48fd8631c 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ desktopconf = configuration_data()
 # file when built in a non-system prefix
 desktopconf.set('bindir', bindir)
 desktopconf.set('VERSION', meson.project_version())
+desktopconf.set('systemd_hidden', have_systemd ? 'true' : 'false')
+
 foreach desktop_file : desktop_files
   i18n.merge_file('desktop',
     input: configure_file(
diff --git a/data/org.gnome.Shell.desktop.in.in b/data/org.gnome.Shell.desktop.in.in
index 09543e858..1b46ef944 100644
--- a/data/org.gnome.Shell.desktop.in.in
+++ b/data/org.gnome.Shell.desktop.in.in
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ X-GNOME-Autostart-Phase=DisplayServer
 X-GNOME-Provides=panel;windowmanager;
 X-GNOME-Autostart-Notify=true
 X-GNOME-AutoRestart=false
+X-GNOME-HiddenUnderSystemd=@systemd_hidden@