diff --git a/config.h.meson b/config.h.meson
index 26e13b9ca..b7ca736df 100644
--- a/config.h.meson
+++ b/config.h.meson
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
 /* Building with libwacom for advanced tablet management */
 #mesondefine HAVE_LIBWACOM
 
+/* Building with libsystemd */
+#mesondefine HAVE_LIBSYSTEMD
+
 /* Define if you want to enable the native (KMS) backend based on systemd */
 #mesondefine HAVE_NATIVE_BACKEND
 
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 7d44178f0..5cf57e2fa 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -191,13 +191,15 @@ if have_libgudev
   endif
 endif
 
+have_libsystemd = get_option('systemd')
+libsystemd_dep = dependency('libsystemd', required: have_libsystemd)
+
 have_native_backend = get_option('native_backend')
 if have_native_backend
   libdrm_dep = dependency('libdrm')
   libgbm_dep = dependency('gbm', version: gbm_req)
   libinput_dep = dependency('libinput', version: libinput_req)
 
-  libsystemd_dep = dependency('libsystemd', required: false)
   if libsystemd_dep.found()
     logind_provider_dep = libsystemd_dep
   else
@@ -389,6 +391,7 @@ cdata.set_quoted('PACKAGE_VERSION', meson.project_version())
 
 cdata.set('HAVE_EGL', have_egl)
 cdata.set('HAVE_WAYLAND', have_wayland)
+cdata.set('HAVE_LIBSYSTEMD', have_libsystemd)
 cdata.set('HAVE_NATIVE_BACKEND', have_native_backend)
 cdata.set('HAVE_REMOTE_DESKTOP', have_remote_desktop)
 cdata.set('HAVE_EGL_DEVICE', have_egl_device)
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 61d9cb48d..6609e4332 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ option('wayland',
   description: 'Enable Wayland support'
 )
 
+option('systemd',
+  type: 'boolean',
+  value: true,
+  description: 'Enable systemd support'
+)
+
 option('native_backend',
   type: 'boolean',
   value: true,
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index e306be472..f3aebfb28 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ if have_wayland
   ]
 endif
 
+if have_libsystemd
+  mutter_pkg_private_deps += [
+    libsystemd_dep,
+  ]
+endif
+
 if have_native_backend
   mutter_pkg_private_deps += [
     libdrm_dep,