diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 7249bc2..11a2c1a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: |
           apt update
-          apt install -y libgranite-dev meson valac
+          apt install -y libgranite-dev systemd-dev meson valac
       - name: Build
         env:
           DESTDIR: out
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 969f993..51c9a31 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ You'll need the following dependencies:
 
     libgranite-dev >= 6.0.0
     libgtk3-dev
+    systemd-dev
     meson
     valac
 
diff --git a/data/bluetooth-daemon.desktop b/data/bluetooth-daemon.desktop
deleted file mode 100644
index ef434d9..0000000
--- a/data/bluetooth-daemon.desktop
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-[Desktop Entry]
-Name=Bluetooth Daemon
-Comment=Send and receive files via Bluetooth
-Exec=io.elementary.bluetooth -s
-Icon=io.elementary.bluetooth
-Type=Application
-NoDisplay=true
-Categories=System;
-X-GNOME-Autostart-Notify=false
-X-GNOME-AutoRestart=true
-X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true
-OnlyShowIn=Pantheon;
diff --git a/data/bluetooth.service.in b/data/bluetooth.service.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4ef9b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/bluetooth.service.in
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Bluetooth Daemon
+After=gnome-session-initialized.target
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=gnome-session-initialized.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=exec
+ExecStart=@bindir@/io.elementary.bluetooth -s
+Restart=on-failure
+Slice=session.slice
diff --git a/data/meson.build b/data/meson.build
index 9335494..d910a4a 100644
--- a/data/meson.build
+++ b/data/meson.build
@@ -13,11 +13,24 @@ foreach i : icon_sizes
     )
 endforeach
 
-install_data(
-    'bluetooth-daemon.desktop',
-    rename: meson.project_name() + '.desktop',
-    install_dir: get_option('sysconfdir') / 'xdg' / 'autostart'
-)
+systemd_user_unit_dir = get_option('systemduserunitdir')
+if systemd_user_unit_dir != 'no'
+    systemd_dep = dependency ('systemd')
+
+    if systemd_user_unit_dir == ''
+        systemd_user_unit_dir = systemd_dep.get_variable('systemduserunitdir', pkgconfig_define: ['prefix', prefix])
+    endif
+
+    service_config = configuration_data()
+    service_config.set('bindir', bindir)
+
+    configure_file(
+        input: 'bluetooth.service.in',
+        output: meson.project_name() + '.service',
+        configuration: service_config,
+        install_dir: systemd_user_unit_dir
+    )
+endif
 
 i18n.merge_file(
     input: 'bluetooth.desktop',
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d187293..4cf94a8 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ add_global_arguments('-DGETTEXT_PACKAGE="@0@"'.format(meson.project_name()), lan
 gnome = import('gnome')
 i18n = import('i18n')
 
+prefix = get_option('prefix')
+bindir = prefix / get_option('bindir')
+
 granite_dep = dependency ('granite')
 gtk_dep = dependency ('gtk+-3.0')
 posix_dep = meson.get_compiler('vala').find_library('posix')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1195c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+option('systemduserunitdir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'custom directory for systemd user units, or \'no\' to disable')