diff --git a/elements/debian-systemd/README.md b/elements/debian-systemd/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13ff9cee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/debian-systemd/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+You may want to use `systemd` instead of the classic sysv init system.
+In this case, include this element in your element list.
diff --git a/elements/debian-systemd/element-deps b/elements/debian-systemd/element-deps
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2dee1753e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/debian-systemd/element-deps
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+debian
diff --git a/elements/debian-systemd/root.d/05-debian-systemd b/elements/debian-systemd/root.d/05-debian-systemd
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..0a37a3067
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elements/debian-systemd/root.d/05-debian-systemd
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -eux
+cat > ${TARGET_ROOT}/.extra_settings << EOF
+DIB_DEBIAN_ALT_INIT_PACKAGE=systemd-sysv
+EOF