diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 646c73d5..b8758482 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ libdir      := @libdir@
 includedir  := @includedir@
 sbindir     := @sbindir@
 localstatedir := @localstatedir@
+systemdsystemunitdir := @systemdsystemunitdir@
 CXX      := @CXX@
 CXXFLAGS := -I$(srcdir)/include -Iinclude @CPPFLAGS@ @CXXFLAGS@
 LDFLAGS  := @LDFLAGS@
@@ -125,6 +126,9 @@ install: znc $(LIBZNC)
 	fi
 	@$(MAKE) -C man install DESTDIR=$(DESTDIR)
 
+	@HAVE_SYSTEMD_TRUE@test -d $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir) || $(INSTALL) -d $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir)
+	@HAVE_SYSTEMD_TRUE@$(INSTALL_DATA) znc.service $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir)
+
 uninstall:
 	rm $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/znc
 	rm $(DESTDIR)$(bindir)/znc-config
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8373756a..19786d1e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([add-networks],
 	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-add-networks], [allow non-admins to add networks]),
 	[ if test x"$enableval" = "xyes" ; then appendCXX "-DENABLE_ADD_NETWORK" ; fi ])
 
+AC_ARG_WITH([systemdsystemunitdir],
+	AS_HELP_STRING([--with-systemdsystemunitdir=DIR], [Directory for systemd service files]),
+	[], [with_systemdsystemunitdir=$($PKG_CONFIG --variable=systemdsystemunitdir systemd)])
+if test "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" != xno; then
+	AC_SUBST([systemdsystemunitdir], [$with_systemdsystemunitdir])
+fi
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_SYSTEMD, [test -n "$with_systemdsystemunitdir" -a "x$with_systemdsystemunitdir" != xno ])
+
 if test "$DEBUG" != "no"; then
 	appendCXX -ggdb3
 	AC_DEFINE([_DEBUG], [1], [Define for debugging])