diff --git a/src/daemon/meson.build b/src/daemon/meson.build
index fb694e7cc..f2a327fb8 100644
--- a/src/daemon/meson.build
+++ b/src/daemon/meson.build
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ executable('pipewire',
   dependencies : [pipewire_dep],
 )
 
-if systemd.found()
+if get_option('systemd') and systemd.found()
   subdir('systemd')
 endif