diff --git a/pmb/config/__init__.py b/pmb/config/__init__.py
index 5e3c8c60..587b9d5a 100644
--- a/pmb/config/__init__.py
+++ b/pmb/config/__init__.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ config_keys = [
     "ssh_key_glob",
     "ssh_keys",
     "sudo_timer",
+    "systemd",
     "timezone",
     "ui",
     "ui_extras",
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@ defaults = {
     "ssh_key_glob": "~/.ssh/id_*.pub",
     "ssh_keys": False,
     "sudo_timer": False,
+    "systemd": "default",
     "timezone": "GMT",
     "ui": "console",
     "ui_extras": False,
@@ -792,6 +794,7 @@ apkbuild_custom_valid_options = [
     "pmb:cross-native",
     "pmb:gpu-accel",
     "pmb:strict",
+    "pmb:systemd",
 ]
 
 # Variables from deviceinfo. Reference: <https://postmarketos.org/deviceinfo>
diff --git a/pmb/config/init.py b/pmb/config/init.py
index c047bd1f..2e43f88f 100644
--- a/pmb/config/init.py
+++ b/pmb/config/init.py
@@ -189,6 +189,24 @@ def ask_for_ui_extras(args, ui):
                                    default=args.ui_extras)
 
 
+def ask_for_systemd(args, ui):
+    if "systemd" not in pmb.config.pmaports.read_config_repos(args):
+        return args.systemd
+
+    default_is_systemd = pmb.helpers.ui.check_option(args, ui, "pmb:systemd")
+    not_str = " " if default_is_systemd else " not "
+    logging.info("Based on your UI selection, 'default' will result"
+                 f" in{not_str}installing systemd.")
+
+    choices = ["default", "always", "never"]
+    answer = pmb.helpers.cli.ask("Install systemd?",
+                                 choices,
+                                 args.systemd,
+                                 validation_regex=f"^({'|'.join(choices)})$",
+                                 complete=choices)
+    return answer
+
+
 def ask_for_keymaps(args, info):
     if "keymaps" not in info or info["keymaps"].strip() == "":
         return ""
@@ -673,6 +691,10 @@ def frontend(args):
     ui = ask_for_ui(args, info)
     cfg["pmbootstrap"]["ui"] = ui
     cfg["pmbootstrap"]["ui_extras"] = str(ask_for_ui_extras(args, ui))
+
+    # systemd
+    cfg["pmbootstrap"]["systemd"] = ask_for_systemd(args, ui)
+
     ask_for_provider_select_pkg(args, f"postmarketos-ui-{ui}",
                                 cfg["providers"])
     ask_for_additional_options(args, cfg)
diff --git a/pmb/config/pmaports.py b/pmb/config/pmaports.py
index 29678964..4660ab71 100644
--- a/pmb/config/pmaports.py
+++ b/pmb/config/pmaports.py
@@ -81,6 +81,28 @@ def check_version_pmbootstrap(min):
                        " of pmbootstrap from git.")
 
 
+def read_config_repos(args):
+    """ Read the sections starting with "repo:" from pmaports.cfg. """
+    # Try cache first
+    cache_key = "pmb.config.pmaports.read_config_repos"
+    if pmb.helpers.other.cache[cache_key]:
+        return pmb.helpers.other.cache[cache_key]
+
+    cfg = configparser.ConfigParser()
+    cfg.read(f"{args.aports}/pmaports.cfg")
+
+    ret = {}
+    for section in cfg.keys():
+        if not section.startswith("repo:"):
+            continue
+        repo = section.split("repo:", 1)[1]
+        ret[repo] = cfg[section]
+
+    # Cache and return
+    pmb.helpers.other.cache[cache_key] = ret
+    return ret
+
+
 def read_config(args):
     """ Read and verify pmaports.cfg. """
     # Try cache first
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/other.py b/pmb/helpers/other.py
index 91d3345c..c0bec5f9 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/other.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/other.py
@@ -312,4 +312,5 @@ def init_cache():
              "pmb.helpers.package.get": {},
              "pmb.helpers.repo.update": repo_update,
              "pmb.helpers.git.parse_channels_cfg": {},
-             "pmb.config.pmaports.read_config": None}
+             "pmb.config.pmaports.read_config": None,
+             "pmb.config.pmaports.read_config_repos": None}
diff --git a/pmb/helpers/ui.py b/pmb/helpers/ui.py
index 039be55d..7c618f17 100644
--- a/pmb/helpers/ui.py
+++ b/pmb/helpers/ui.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 import os
 import glob
+import pmb.helpers.pmaports
 import pmb.parse
 
 
@@ -21,3 +22,12 @@ def list(args, arch):
         if pmb.helpers.package.check_arch(args, apkbuild["pkgname"], arch):
             ret.append((ui, apkbuild["pkgdesc"]))
     return ret
+
+
+def check_option(args, ui, option):
+    """
+    Check if an option, such as pmb:systemd, is inside an UI's APKBUILD.
+    """
+    pkgname = f"postmarketos-ui-{ui}"
+    apkbuild = pmb.helpers.pmaports.get(args, pkgname, subpackages=False)
+    return option in apkbuild["options"]