diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1ffc81d..5fe4a05 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ $ sudo cmake --build . --target install
 
       Defines version of systemd to be downloaded, built and integrated into sdbus-c++. Default value: `242`.
 
+    * `LIBSYSTEMD_EXTRA_CONFIG_OPTS` [string]
+
+      Additional options to be passed as-is to the libsystemd build system (meson for systemd v242) in its configure step. Can be used for passing e.g. toolchain file path in case of cross builds. Default value: empty.
+
 * `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE` [string]
 
   This is a CMake-builtin option. Set to `Release` to build sdbus-c++ for production use. Set to `Debug` if you want to help further develop (and debug) the library :)
diff --git a/cmake/LibsystemdExternalProject.cmake b/cmake/LibsystemdExternalProject.cmake
index e720e88..09dd102 100644
--- a/cmake/LibsystemdExternalProject.cmake
+++ b/cmake/LibsystemdExternalProject.cmake
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ if((NOT MESON) OR (NOT NINJA))
     message(FATAL_ERROR "Meson and Ninja are required to build libsystemd")
 endif()
 
+if(NOT GPERF)
+    message(WARNING "gperf was not found, libsystemd configuration may fail")
+endif()
+
 find_library(GLIBC_RT_LIBRARY rt)
 find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 pkg_check_modules(MOUNT mount)
@@ -15,6 +19,7 @@ if (NOT CAP_FOUND)
 endif()
 
 set(LIBSYSTEMD_VERSION "242" CACHE STRING "libsystemd version (>=239) to build and incorporate into libsdbus-c++")
+set(LIBSYSTEMD_EXTRA_CONFIG_OPTS "" CACHE STRING "Additional configuration options to be passed as-is to libsystemd build system")
 
 if(NOT CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE)
     set(LIBSYSTEMD_BUILD_TYPE "plain")
@@ -41,7 +46,7 @@ ExternalProject_Add(LibsystemdBuildProject
                     GIT_SHALLOW       1
                     UPDATE_COMMAND    ""
                     CONFIGURE_COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E remove <BINARY_DIR>/*
-                              COMMAND ${MESON} --prefix=<INSTALL_DIR> --buildtype=${LIBSYSTEMD_BUILD_TYPE} -Dstatic-libsystemd=pic -Dselinux=false <SOURCE_DIR> <BINARY_DIR>
+                              COMMAND ${MESON} --prefix=<INSTALL_DIR> --buildtype=${LIBSYSTEMD_BUILD_TYPE} -Dstatic-libsystemd=pic -Dselinux=false <SOURCE_DIR> <BINARY_DIR> ${LIBSYSTEMD_EXTRA_CONFIG_OPTS}
                     BUILD_COMMAND     ${BUILD_VERSION_H}
                           COMMAND     ${NINJA} -C <BINARY_DIR> libsystemd.a
                     BUILD_ALWAYS      0