diff --git a/package/rpcbind/rpcbind.mk b/package/rpcbind/rpcbind.mk
index 0f5011e522..46e5b27d35 100644
--- a/package/rpcbind/rpcbind.mk
+++ b/package/rpcbind/rpcbind.mk
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ RPCBIND_CONF_OPTS += --with-rpcuser=root
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_INIT_SYSTEMD),y)
 RPCBIND_CONF_OPTS += --with-systemdsystemunitdir=/usr/lib/systemd/system
+RPCBIND_DEPENDENCIES += systemd
 else
 RPCBIND_CONF_OPTS += --with-systemdsystemunitdir=no
 endif