diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 84b283e60f..a4814550ae 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ install_systemdunitdir = (systemd_systemdsystemunitdir != 'no')
 
 if install_systemdunitdir and systemd_systemdsystemunitdir == ''
   assert(systemd_dep.found(), 'systemd required but not found, please provide a valid systemd user unit dir or disable it')
-  systemd_systemdsystemunitdir = systemd_dep.get_pkgconfig_variable('systemdsystemunitdir')
+  systemd_systemdsystemunitdir = systemd_dep.get_pkgconfig_variable('systemdsystemunitdir', define_variable: ['rootprefix', nm_prefix])
 endif
 
 enable_systemd_journal = get_option('systemd_journal')