diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 4365868..7413646 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -344,17 +344,24 @@ dnl 	$as_echo "in order to autodetect network scanners in kodakaio."
 dnl 	with_cups="no"
 dnl fi
 
-dnl added by llagendijk 12/7/2012 to detect systemd for saned
-$as_echo_n "Checking for systemd..."
-if test -e /usr/include/systemd/sd-daemon.h ; then
-    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_SYSTEMD, 1, [Is /usr/include/systemd/sd-daemon.h available?])
-    with_systemd="yes"
-    SYSTEMD_LIBS=" -lsystemd-daemon"
-    AC_SUBST(SYSTEMD_LIBS)
-    $as_echo "yes"
-else
-    with_systemd="no"
-    $as_echo "no"
+AC_ARG_WITH(systemd,
+	AC_HELP_STRING([--with-systemd], [enable systemd support @<:@default=yes@:>@]))
+if test "x$with_systemd" != xno ; then
+    dnl added by llagendijk 12/7/2012 to detect systemd for saned
+    $as_echo_n "Checking for systemd..."
+    if test -e /usr/include/systemd/sd-daemon.h ; then
+	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_SYSTEMD, 1, [Is /usr/include/systemd/sd-daemon.h available?])
+	have_systemd="yes"
+	SYSTEMD_LIBS=" -lsystemd-daemon"
+	AC_SUBST(SYSTEMD_LIBS)
+	$as_echo "yes"
+    else
+	have_systemd="no"
+	$as_echo "no"
+	if test "x$with_systemd" = xyes; then
+	    AC_MSG_ERROR([Systemd support was requested but systemd was not found])
+	fi
+    fi
 fi
 
 dnl ***********