diff --git a/elements/base/dib-init-system b/elements/base/dib-init-system
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..88cf5faeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/base/dib-init-system
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -eu
+
+if [ -f /sbin/initctl ]; then
+    echo "upstart"
+elif [ -f /usr/bin/systemctl ]; then
+    echo "systemd"
+elif [ -f /sbin/init ]; then
+    if [ -f /bin/systemd ]; then
+        echo "systemd"
+    else
+        echo "sysv"
+    fi
+else
+    echo "Unknown init system"
+    exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/elements/base/environment.d/10-dib-init-system.bash b/elements/base/environment.d/10-dib-init-system.bash
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f264a23af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/base/environment.d/10-dib-init-system.bash
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export DIB_INIT_SYSTEM=$(dib-init-system)
diff --git a/elements/base/pre-install.d/04-dib-init-system b/elements/base/pre-install.d/04-dib-init-system
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..54ea25876
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/base/pre-install.d/04-dib-init-system
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e
+
+install -m 0755 -o root -g root $(dirname $0)/../dib-init-system /usr/bin/