diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 77212cf..3a2343b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -18,6 +18,25 @@
 # pkg-config
 PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
 PKG_INSTALLDIR
+AC_ARG_WITH([systemdsystemunitdir],
+     [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-systemdsystemunitdir=DIR], [Directory for systemd service files])],
+     [],
+     [with_systemdsystemunitdir=auto]
+)
+AS_IF([test "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" = "xyes" -o "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" = "xauto"],
+    [def_systemdsystemunitdir=$($PKG_CONFIG --variable=systemdsystemunitdir systemd)
+     AS_IF([test "x$def_systemdsystemunitdir" = "x"],
+           [AS_IF([test "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" = "xyes"],
+                  [AC_MSG_ERROR([systemd support requested but pkg-config unable to query systemd package])]
+            )
+            with_systemdsystemunitdir=no],
+           [with_systemdsystemunitdir="$def_systemdsystemunitdir"]
+     )]
+)
+AS_IF([test "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" != "xno"],
+      [AC_SUBST([systemdsystemunitdir], [$with_systemdsystemunitdir])]
+)
+AM_CONDITIONAL([HAVE_SYSTEMD], [test "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" != "xno"])
 
 # Set defaults for standard library compiles. We may want to
 # AC_ARG_WITH these in the future.