diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index fa6fd7d5414..513c8526551 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -490,8 +490,7 @@ dist_systemunit_DATA = \
 	units/systemd-udevd-control.socket \
 	units/systemd-udevd-kernel.socket \
 	units/system-update.target \
-	units/initrd-switch-root.target \
-	units/ldconfig.service
+	units/initrd-switch-root.target
 
 nodist_systemunit_DATA = \
 	units/getty@.service \
@@ -919,6 +918,16 @@ libsystemd_label_la_CFLAGS = \
 libsystemd_label_la_LIBADD = \
 	$(SELINUX_LIBS)
 
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+if ENABLE_LDCONFIG
+dist_systemunit_DATA += \
+	units/ldconfig.service
+
+SYSINIT_TARGET_WANTS += \
+	ldconfig.service
+endif
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 if HAVE_SECCOMP
@@ -5789,8 +5798,7 @@ endif
 
 SYSINIT_TARGET_WANTS += \
 	systemd-update-utmp.service \
-	systemd-update-done.service \
-	ldconfig.service
+	systemd-update-done.service
 
 LOCAL_FS_TARGET_WANTS += \
 	systemd-remount-fs.service \
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6d5536b5992..d95a34894b5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1182,7 +1182,12 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_manpages" != xno], [have_manpages=yes])
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_MANPAGES, [test "x$have_manpages" = "xyes"])
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(ldconfig,
+       [AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-ldconfig], [disable ldconfig])],
+       enable_ldconfig=$enableval, enable_ldconfig=yes)
+AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_LDCONFIG, [test x$enable_ldconfig = xyes])
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Location of the init scripts as mandated by LSB
 SYSTEM_SYSVINIT_PATH=/etc/init.d
 SYSTEM_SYSVRCND_PATH=/etc/rc.d
diff --git a/units/ldconfig.service b/units/ldconfig.service
index 09a2b7458f0..43c145b7266 100644
--- a/units/ldconfig.service
+++ b/units/ldconfig.service
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ Conflicts=shutdown.target
 After=systemd-readahead-collect.service systemd-readahead-replay.service systemd-remount-fs.service
 Before=sysinit.target shutdown.target systemd-update-done.service
 ConditionNeedsUpdate=/etc
-ConditionFileIsExecutable=/sbin/ldconfig
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot