diff --git a/system/Config.in b/system/Config.in
index 353421a9cf..77c665b173 100644
--- a/system/Config.in
+++ b/system/Config.in
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ config BR2_INIT_SYSTEMD
 	depends on BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HEADERS_AT_LEAST_3_10
 	select BR2_ROOTFS_MERGED_USR
 	select BR2_PACKAGE_SYSTEMD
-	select BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_REMOUNT_ROOTFS_RW
+	select BR2_TARGET_GENERIC_REMOUNT_ROOTFS_RW if BR2_ROOTFS_SKELETON_DEFAULT
 
 comment "systemd needs a glibc toolchain, headers >= 3.10"
 	depends on !(BR2_TOOLCHAIN_USES_GLIBC \