diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0213ed4..8b0ab79 100755
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -22,6 +22,22 @@
 # Checks for library functions
 LT_INIT # Required for systemd linking
 
+PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
+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"])
+
 # Check/set gtest specific functions.
 AX_PTHREAD([GTEST_CPPFLAGS="-DGTEST_HAS_PTHREAD=1"],[GTEST_CPPFLAGS="-DGTEST_HAS_PTHREAD=0"])
 AC_SUBST(GTEST_CPPFLAGS)