diff --git a/package/wpewebkit/wpewebkit.mk b/package/wpewebkit/wpewebkit.mk
index 6233505ca7..6f83775e96 100644
--- a/package/wpewebkit/wpewebkit.mk
+++ b/package/wpewebkit/wpewebkit.mk
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ else
 WPEWEBKIT_CONF_OPTS += -DUSE_WOFF2=OFF
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_INIT_SYSTEMD),y)
+WPEWEBKIT_CONF_OPTS += -DUSE_SYSTEMD=ON
+WPEWEBKIT_DEPENDENCIES += systemd
+else
+WPEWEBKIT_CONF_OPTS += -DUSE_SYSTEMD=OFF
+endif
+
 # JIT is not supported for MIPS r6, but the WebKit build system does not
 # have a check for these processors. The same goes for ARMv5 and ARMv6.
 # Disable JIT forcibly here and use the CLoop interpreter instead.