diff --git a/daemon/Makefile.am b/daemon/Makefile.am
index fbb0ae1f90..71e91cd708 100644
--- a/daemon/Makefile.am
+++ b/daemon/Makefile.am
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ BUILT_SOURCES += libvirtd.service
 
 install-init-systemd: install-sysconfig libvirtd.service
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR)
-	$(INSTALL_SCRIPT) libvirtd.service \
+	$(INSTALL_DATA) libvirtd.service \
 	  $(DESTDIR)$(SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR)/libvirtd.service
 
 uninstall-init-systemd: uninstall-sysconfig
diff --git a/tools/Makefile.am b/tools/Makefile.am
index 7ca5599252..c82a2fb1c5 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile.am
+++ b/tools/Makefile.am
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR = /lib/systemd/system
 if LIBVIRT_INIT_SCRIPT_SYSTEMD
 install-systemd: libvirt-guests.service install-initscript install-sysconfig
 	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR)
-	$(INSTALL_SCRIPT) libvirt-guests.service \
+	$(INSTALL_DATA) libvirt-guests.service \
 	  $(DESTDIR)$(SYSTEMD_UNIT_DIR)/libvirt-guests.service
 
 uninstall-systemd: uninstall-initscript uninstall-sysconfig