diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 02b931943..8e7976865 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -10,3 +10,7 @@ option('enable_gstreamer',
        description: 'Build GStreamer plugins',
        type: 'boolean',
        value: false)
+option('systemd',
+       description: 'Enable systemd integration',
+       type: 'boolean',
+       value: true)
diff --git a/src/daemon/meson.build b/src/daemon/meson.build
index 27eb1f009..0761224d7 100644
--- a/src/daemon/meson.build
+++ b/src/daemon/meson.build
@@ -30,8 +30,11 @@ executable('pipewire',
   dependencies : [pipewire_dep],
 )
 
-systemd = dependency('systemd', required: false)
-
-if systemd.found()
-  subdir('systemd')
+if get_option('systemd')
+  systemd = dependency('systemd', required: false)
+  if systemd.found()
+    subdir('systemd')
+  else
+    warning('Systemd integration was enabled, but systemd is not available')
+  endif
 endif