diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index aff75a2..7281ccb 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ localedir = join_paths(prefix, get_option('localedir'))
 sbindir = join_paths(prefix, get_option('sbindir'))
 
 systemd = dependency('systemd', required : false)
+install_systemd_units = systemd.found() or get_option('INSTALL_SYSTEMD_UNITS')
+
 systemdunitdir = get_option('systemdunitdir')
-if systemdunitdir == '' and systemd.found()
+if systemdunitdir == '' and install_systemd_units
 	systemdunitdir = systemd.get_pkgconfig_variable('systemdsystemunitdir')
 endif
 
@@ -280,7 +282,7 @@ if build_rdisc == true
 		install_dir: sbindir,
 		link_with : [libcommon],
 		install: true)
-	if systemd.found()
+	if install_systemd_units
 		subs = configuration_data()
 		subs.set('sbindir', sbindir)
 		unit_file = configure_file(
@@ -316,7 +318,7 @@ if build_rarpd == true
 		install_dir: sbindir,
 		link_with : [libcommon],
 		install: true)
-	if systemd.found()
+	if install_systemd_units
 		subs = configuration_data()
 		subs.set('sbindir', sbindir)
 		unit_file = configure_file(
@@ -359,7 +361,7 @@ output += '\nCONFIGURATION\n'
 output += 'Capatiblity (with libcap): ' + cap.to_string() + '\n'
 output += 'IDN (with libidn2): ' + idn.to_string() + '\n'
 output += 'I18N (with gettext): ' + gettext.to_string() + '\n'
-output += 'systemd: ' + systemd.found().to_string() + '\n'
+output += 'systemd: ' + install_systemd_units.to_string() + '\n'
 
 output += '\nSYSTEM PATHS\n'
 output += 'prefix: ' + prefix + '\n'
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index aade675..c806d80 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -64,5 +64,8 @@ option('ARPING_DEFAULT_DEVICE', type : 'string', value : '',
 option('systemdunitdir', type: 'string', value: '',
 	description: 'Directory for systemd units')
 
+option('INSTALL_SYSTEMD_UNITS', type: 'boolean', value: false,
+        description: 'Install generated systemd unit files')
+
 option('USE_GETTEXT', type: 'boolean', value: true,
 	description: 'Enable I18N')
diff --git a/ninfod/meson.build b/ninfod/meson.build
index 80b0a44..770169a 100644
--- a/ninfod/meson.build
+++ b/ninfod/meson.build
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ executable('ninfod', [ninfod_sources, git_version_h],
 conf_data = configuration_data()
 conf_data.set('prefix', prefix)
 
-if systemd.found()
+if install_systemd_units
 	subs = configuration_data()
 	subs.set('sbindir', sbindir)
 	unit_file = configure_file(