diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 880497d4..9db5e937 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ build-aux
 autom4te.cache
 ell
 src/iwd
+src/iwd.service
 client/iwctl
 monitor/iwmon
 tools/hwsim
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index daf0510f..3fc6db96 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@ ell_sources = ell/ell.h ell/private.h ell/missing.h \
 
 ell_libell_internal_la_SOURCES = $(ell_sources)
 
-bin_PROGRAMS = src/iwd
+bin_PROGRAMS =
+
+libexec_PROGRAMS = src/iwd
 
 src_iwd_SOURCES = src/main.c linux/nl80211.h \
 					src/netdev.h src/netdev.c \
@@ -104,6 +106,13 @@ src_iwd_SOURCES = src/main.c linux/nl80211.h \
 
 src_iwd_LDADD = ell/libell-internal.la -ldl
 
+if SYSTEMD_SERVICE
+src_iwd_DEPENDENCIES = src/iwd.service
+
+systemd_unitdir = @SYSTEMD_UNITDIR@
+systemd_unit_DATA = src/iwd.service
+endif
+
 if CLIENT
 bin_PROGRAMS += client/iwctl
 
@@ -275,11 +284,14 @@ if BUILD_DOCS
 dist_man_MANS = $(manual_pages)
 endif
 
-EXTRA_DIST = src/genbuiltin doc/main.conf $(manual_pages:.1=.txt)
+EXTRA_DIST = src/genbuiltin src/iwd.service.in \
+			doc/main.conf $(manual_pages:.1=.txt)
 
 AM_CFLAGS = -fvisibility=hidden
 
-DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = --disable-dbus-policy
+CLEANFILES = src/iwd.service
+
+DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS = --disable-dbus-policy --disable-systemd-service
 
 DISTCLEANFILES = $(BUILT_SOURCES) $(unit_tests) $(manual_pages)
 
@@ -309,6 +321,13 @@ ell/unit/test_data: Makefile
 		fi \
 	done > $@
 
+SED_PROCESS = $(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) $(dir $@) && \
+		$(SED) -e 's,@libexecdir\@,$(libexecdir),g' \
+		< $< > $@
+
+%.service: %.service.in Makefile
+	$(SED_PROCESS)
+
 %.1: %.txt
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(A2X) --doctype manpage --format manpage $(srcdir)/$<
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9560439a..b3a7fd41 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -122,6 +122,24 @@ if (test "${enable_dbus_policy}" != "no" && test -z "${path_dbus_datadir}"); the
 fi
 AC_SUBST(DBUS_DATADIR, [${path_dbus_datadir}])
 
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([systemd-service], AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-systemd-service],
+				[don't install systemd service file]),
+					[enable_systemd_service=${enableval}])
+AM_CONDITIONAL(SYSTEMD_SERVICE, test "${enable_systemd_service}" != "no")
+
+AC_ARG_WITH([systemd-unitdir], AC_HELP_STRING([--with-systemd-unitdir=DIR],
+				[path to systemd unit directory]),
+					[path_systemd_unitdir=${withval}])
+if (test "${enable_systemd_service}" != "no" && test -z "${path_systemd_unitdir}"); then
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([systemd unit directory])
+	path_systemd_unitdir="`$PKG_CONFIG --variable=systemdsystemunitdir systemd`"
+	if (test -z "${path_systemd_unitdir}"); then
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([systemd unit directory is required])
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([${path_systemd_unitdir}])
+fi
+AC_SUBST(SYSTEMD_UNITDIR, [${path_systemd_unitdir}])
+
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([docs], AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-docs],
 				[build documentation and manual pages]),
 					[enable_docs=${enableval}])
diff --git a/src/iwd.service.in b/src/iwd.service.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..50fbf6af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/iwd.service.in
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Wireless service
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=@libexecdir@/iwd
+LimitNPROC=1
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=network-pre.target