diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/vte/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/vte/default.nix
index 0411086c78c3..eae934a4ebb1 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/vte/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/vte/default.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 , zlib
 , icu
 , systemd
+, systemdSupport ? stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     pcre2
     zlib
     icu
+  ] ++ lib.optionals systemdSupport [
     systemd
   ];
 
@@ -73,6 +75,10 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     pango
   ];
 
+  mesonFlags = lib.optionals (!systemdSupport) [
+    "-D_systemd=false"
+  ];
+
   postPatch = ''
     patchShebangs perf/*
     patchShebangs src/box_drawing_generate.sh