diff --git a/package/sslh/sslh.mk b/package/sslh/sslh.mk
index d0a5f82347..6e29a99189 100644
--- a/package/sslh/sslh.mk
+++ b/package/sslh/sslh.mk
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ else
 SSLH_MAKE_OPTS += USELIBPCRE=
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_SYSTEMD),y)
+SSLH_DEPENDENCIES += systemd
+SSLH_MAKE_OPTS += USESYSTEMD=1
+else
+SSLH_MAKE_OPTS += USESYSTEMD=
+endif
+
 define SSLH_BUILD_CMDS
 	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) $(SSLH_MAKE_OPTS) -C $(@D)
 endef