diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 09c3ab00f4..b52f3d77ec 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ if runstatedir == ''
   runstatedir = localstatedir / 'run'
 endif
 
+initconfdir = get_option('initconfdir')
+if initconfdir == ''
+  initconfdir = sysconfdir / 'sysconfig'
+endif
+
 bindir = prefix / get_option('bindir')
 datadir = prefix / get_option('datadir')
 includedir = prefix / get_option('includedir')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 861c5577d2..9174c4021c 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ option('packager', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Extra packager name'
 option('packager_version', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Extra packager version')
 option('system', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Set install paths to system ones')
 option('runstatedir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'State directory for temporary sockets, pid files, etc')
+option('initconfdir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'directory for init script configuration files')
 option('expensive_tests', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'set the default for enabling expensive tests (long timeouts)')
 option('test_coverage', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'turn on code coverage instrumentation')
 option('git_werror', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'use -Werror if building from GIT')