--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ xdp = meson.get_compiler('c').has_header('libknot/xdp/xdp.h')
 ### Systemd
 systemd_files = get_option('systemd_files')
 systemd_legacy_units = get_option('systemd_legacy_units')
-libsystemd = dependency('libsystemd', required: systemd_files == 'enabled')
+libsystemd = dependency('libsystemd', required: get_option('systemd'))
 
 # Uh, lifted this trivial line from tests/meson.build due to dependency sorting:
 build_extra_tests = get_option('extra_tests') == 'enabled'
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -227,3 +227,10 @@ option(
   value: 'auto',
   description: 'add rpath to the knot resolver executables',
 )
+
+option(
+  'systemd',
+  type: 'feature',
+  value: 'auto',
+  description: 'systemd watchdog support',
+)