diff --git a/libmapper/workaround/systemd.h b/libmapper/workaround/systemd.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1b32753
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libmapper/workaround/systemd.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifdef IS_UNPATCHED_SYSTEMD
+#include <systemd/sd-bus.h>
+
+int sd_bus_message_append_cmdline(sd_bus_message *m, const char *signature,
+    char ***x) { return 0; }
+#endif