diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index fcf680594..f576001d2 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -61,6 +61,6 @@ if INSTALL_SYSTEMV
 	[ -f $(DESTDIR)/etc/init.d/shairport-sync ] || cp scripts/shairport-sync $(DESTDIR)/etc/init.d/
 endif
 if INSTALL_SYSTEMD
-	[ -e $(DESTDIR)/usr/lib/systemd/system ] || mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)/usr/lib/systemd/system
-	cp scripts/shairport-sync.service $(DESTDIR)/usr/lib/systemd/system
+	[ -e $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir) ] || mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir)
+	cp scripts/shairport-sync.service $(DESTDIR)$(systemdsystemunitdir)
 endif
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index dcaabbb48..cf3cb22ce 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -213,6 +213,22 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(dns_sd, [  --with-dns_sd = choose dns_sd mDNS support], [
   AC_SEARCH_LIBS([DNSServiceRefDeallocate], [dns_sd], , AC_MSG_ERROR(dns_sd support requires the dns_sd library!))], )
 AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_DNS_SD], [test "x$HAS_DNS_SD" = "x1"])
 
+# Find systemd unit dir
+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"])
+
 # Checks for header files.
 AC_HEADER_STDC
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS([getopt_long.h])