diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
index ee2d6c91d..a32cfae1d 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
@@ -162,8 +162,10 @@ MetaIdleManager * meta_backend_get_idle_manager (MetaBackend *backend);
 META_EXPORT_TEST
 MetaColorManager * meta_backend_get_color_manager (MetaBackend *backend);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
 META_EXPORT_TEST
 MetaLauncher * meta_backend_get_launcher (MetaBackend *backend);
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
 META_EXPORT_TEST
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index 6d5ca13ae..18e31e78d 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@
 #include "backends/meta-input-capture.h"
 #include "backends/meta-input-mapper-private.h"
 #include "backends/meta-input-settings-private.h"
-#include "backends/meta-launcher.h"
 #include "backends/meta-logical-monitor.h"
 #include "backends/meta-monitor-manager-dummy.h"
 #include "backends/meta-remote-access-controller-private.h"
@@ -95,6 +94,10 @@
 #include "wayland/meta-wayland.h"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
+#include "backends/meta-launcher.h"
+#endif
+
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
 #include "backends/meta-udev.h"
 #endif
@@ -149,7 +152,9 @@ struct _MetaBackendPrivate
   MetaIdleManager *idle_manager;
   MetaRenderer *renderer;
   MetaColorManager *color_manager;
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
   MetaLauncher *launcher;
+#endif
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
   MetaUdev *udev;
 #endif
@@ -265,7 +270,9 @@ meta_backend_finalize (GObject *object)
   g_cancellable_cancel (priv->cancellable);
   g_clear_object (&priv->cancellable);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
   g_clear_object (&priv->launcher);
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
   g_clear_object (&priv->udev);
@@ -964,6 +971,7 @@ meta_backend_class_init (MetaBackendClass *klass)
                   G_TYPE_NONE, 0);
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
 static void
 meta_backend_pause (MetaBackend *backend)
 {
@@ -1018,6 +1026,7 @@ meta_backend_create_launcher (MetaBackend   *backend,
   *launcher_out = g_steal_pointer (&launcher);
   return ret;
 }
+#endif
 
 static MetaMonitorManager *
 meta_backend_create_monitor_manager (MetaBackend *backend,
@@ -1326,8 +1335,10 @@ meta_backend_initable_init (GInitable     *initable,
              system_bus_gotten_cb,
              backend);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
   if (!meta_backend_create_launcher (backend, &priv->launcher, error))
       return FALSE;
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
   priv->udev = meta_udev_new (backend);
@@ -1524,6 +1535,7 @@ meta_backend_get_color_manager (MetaBackend *backend)
   return priv->color_manager;
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
 MetaLauncher *
 meta_backend_get_launcher (MetaBackend *backend)
 {
@@ -1531,6 +1543,7 @@ meta_backend_get_launcher (MetaBackend *backend)
 
   return priv->launcher;
 }
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
 MetaUdev *
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
index c512814bc..0365180d8 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include "backends/meta-color-manager.h"
 #include "backends/meta-idle-monitor-private.h"
 #include "backends/meta-keymap-utils.h"
-#include "backends/meta-launcher.h"
 #include "backends/meta-stage-private.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-barrier-x11.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-clutter-backend-x11.h"
@@ -61,6 +60,10 @@
 #include "mtk/mtk-x11.h"
 #include "x11/window-x11.h"
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
+#include "backends/meta-launcher.h"
+#endif
+
 typedef struct _MetaBackendX11Private
 {
   /* The host X11 display */
@@ -612,6 +615,7 @@ meta_backend_x11_init_post (MetaBackend  *backend,
   return TRUE;
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
 static gboolean
 meta_backend_x11_create_launcher (MetaBackend   *backend,
                                   MetaLauncher **launcher_out,
@@ -636,6 +640,7 @@ meta_backend_x11_create_launcher (MetaBackend   *backend,
   *launcher_out = g_steal_pointer (&launcher);
   return TRUE;
 }
+#endif
 
 static ClutterBackend *
 meta_backend_x11_create_clutter_backend (MetaBackend    *backend,
@@ -1083,7 +1088,9 @@ meta_backend_x11_class_init (MetaBackendX11Class *klass)
   backend_class->init_render = meta_backend_x11_init_render;
   backend_class->init_post = meta_backend_x11_init_post;
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LOGIND
   backend_class->create_launcher = meta_backend_x11_create_launcher;
+#endif
   backend_class->create_clutter_backend = meta_backend_x11_create_clutter_backend;
   backend_class->create_color_manager = meta_backend_x11_create_color_manager;
   backend_class->create_default_seat = meta_backend_x11_create_default_seat;
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index b594c4298..43017804e 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -240,8 +240,6 @@ mutter_sources = [
   'backends/meta-input-settings-dummy.h',
   'backends/meta-keymap-utils.c',
   'backends/meta-keymap-utils.h',
-  'backends/meta-launcher.c',
-  'backends/meta-launcher.h',
   'backends/meta-logical-monitor.c',
   'backends/meta-logical-monitor.h',
   'backends/meta-monitor.c',
@@ -922,6 +920,13 @@ if have_libgudev
   ]
 endif
 
+if have_logind
+  mutter_sources += [
+    'backends/meta-launcher.c',
+    'backends/meta-launcher.h',
+  ]
+endif
+
 mutter_private_enum_sources = [
   'core/window-private.h',
 ]