diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/db/dbus/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/db/dbus/package.nix
index 4efedb9106fe..dea34453ba09 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/db/dbus/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/db/dbus/package.nix
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     (lib.mesonEnable "kqueue" (stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin || stdenv.hostPlatform.isBSD))
     (lib.mesonEnable "launchd" stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin)
     "-Dselinux=disabled"
+  ]
+  ++ lib.optionals enableSystemd [
     "--cross-file=${writeText "crossfile.ini" ''
       [binaries]
       systemctl = '${systemdMinimal}/bin/systemctl'