diff --git a/debian/patches/dont-check-for-systemd-pc.diff b/debian/patches/dont-check-for-systemd-pc.diff
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..43a32bfba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/debian/patches/dont-check-for-systemd-pc.diff
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+avoid build-dependency on systemd, which doesn't exist on ubuntu
+
+diff --git a/daemons/configure.ac b/daemons/configure.ac
+index e57dad2..9ca5198 100644
+--- a/daemons/configure.ac
++++ b/daemons/configure.ac
+@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SSSNSSIDMAP], [sss_nss_idmap])
+ dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ dnl - Check for systemd unit directory
+ dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([systemd], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([systemd not found])])
++dnl PKG_CHECK_EXISTS([systemd], [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([systemd not found])])
+ AC_ARG_WITH([systemdsystemunitdir],
+             AS_HELP_STRING([--with-systemdsystemunitdir=DIR], [Directory for systemd service files]),
+             [], [with_systemdsystemunitdir=$($PKG_CONFIG --variable=systemdsystemunitdir systemd)])
diff --git a/debian/patches/series b/debian/patches/series
index f297ddfa4..21b4cb59a 100644
--- a/debian/patches/series
+++ b/debian/patches/series
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ fix-install-layout.diff
 fix-ntpdate-opts.diff
 fix-ldap-conf-path.diff
 port-ipa-client-automount.diff
+dont-check-for-systemd-pc.diff
 
 # send upstream
 fix-string-format.diff
diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 04b60edc9..221cb2f17 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ override_dh_autoreconf:
 override_dh_auto_configure:
 	dh_auto_configure -Dipa-client
 ifneq ($(ONLY_CLIENT), 1)
-	dh_auto_configure -Ddaemons -- --with-openldap
+	dh_auto_configure -Ddaemons -- \
+		--with-openldap \
+		--with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system
+
 	dh_auto_configure -Dinstall
 endif