diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 066d05f1e4..36453bfcd1 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2406,6 +2406,7 @@ subdir('src/resolve')
 subdir('src/rpm')
 subdir('src/run-generator')
 subdir('src/shutdown')
+subdir('src/socket-activate')
 subdir('src/sysext')
 subdir('src/systemctl')
 subdir('src/sysupdate')
@@ -2569,16 +2570,6 @@ if conf.get('HAVE_BLKID') == 1 and conf.get('ENABLE_BOOTLOADER') == 1
         endif
 endif
 
-public_programs += executable(
-        'systemd-socket-activate',
-        'src/socket-activate/socket-activate.c',
-        include_directories : includes,
-        link_with : [libshared],
-        dependencies : [threads,
-                        userspace],
-        install_rpath : pkglibdir,
-        install : true)
-
 systemctl = executable(
         'systemctl',
         systemctl_sources,
diff --git a/src/socket-activate/meson.build b/src/socket-activate/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4d18b58a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/socket-activate/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+executables += [
+        executable_template + {
+                'name' : 'systemd-socket-activate',
+                'public' : true,
+                'sources' : files('socket-activate.c'),
+                'dependencies' : threads,
+        },
+]