diff --git a/package/systemd/systemd.mk b/package/systemd/systemd.mk
index f9df66b039..5b2abdc3fe 100644
--- a/package/systemd/systemd.mk
+++ b/package/systemd/systemd.mk
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ else
 SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dpam=false
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_VALGRIND),y)
+SYSTEMD_DEPENDENCIES += valgrind
+SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dvalgrind=true
+else
+SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dvalgrind=false
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_XZ),y)
 SYSTEMD_DEPENDENCIES += xz
 SYSTEMD_CONF_OPTS += -Dxz=true