diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@
 # locate qdbus in the Qt path because not every distro makes a symlink at /usr/bin/qdbus
 query_qmake(QtBinariesDir QT_INSTALL_BINS)
 
+option(PLASMA_SYSTEMD_BOOT "Use systemd units for startup of plasma (WIP)" FALSE)
+
 add_subdirectory(doc)
 add_subdirectory(libkworkspace)
 add_subdirectory(libdbusmenuqt)
diff --git a/config-workspace.h.cmake b/config-workspace.h.cmake
--- a/config-workspace.h.cmake
+++ b/config-workspace.h.cmake
@@ -155,3 +155,5 @@
 
 /** place where plasma-frameworks things are installed */
 #define PLASMA_RELATIVE_DATA_INSTALL_DIR "@PLASMA_RELATIVE_DATA_INSTALL_DIR@"
+
+#cmakedefine PLASMA_SYSTEMD_BOOT 1
diff --git a/krunner/CMakeLists.txt b/krunner/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/krunner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/krunner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -41,4 +41,8 @@
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/KRunnerAppDBusInterfaceConfig.cmake
     DESTINATION ${CMAKECONFIG_INSTALL_DIR})
 
+configure_file(krunner.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/krunner.service @ONLY)
+install( FILES  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/krunner.service DESTINATION
+        ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+
 add_subdirectory(update)
diff --git a/krunner/dbus/org.kde.krunner.service.in b/krunner/dbus/org.kde.krunner.service.in
--- a/krunner/dbus/org.kde.krunner.service.in
+++ b/krunner/dbus/org.kde.krunner.service.in
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 [D-BUS Service]
 Name=org.kde.krunner
 Exec=@KDE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/krunner
+SystemdService=krunner.service
diff --git a/krunner/krunner.service.cmake b/krunner/krunner.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/krunner/krunner.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KRunner
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/krunner
+KillMode=process
+Type=dbus
+BusName=org.kde.krunner
+Slice=plasma.slice
+TimeoutSec=5sec
diff --git a/ksmserver/CMakeLists.txt b/ksmserver/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/ksmserver/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ksmserver/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -73,3 +73,8 @@
 ########### install files ###############
 
 install( FILES org.kde.KSMServerInterface.xml DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_DBUSINTERFACEDIR})
+
+configure_file(ksmserver.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ksmserver.service @ONLY)
+
+install( FILES  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ksmserver.service DESTINATION
+        ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
diff --git a/ksmserver/ksmserver.service.cmake b/ksmserver/ksmserver.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ksmserver/ksmserver.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Session Management Server
+Wants=kcminit.service
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/ksmserver
+# This magic minus sign means don't fail if exit code is non-zero...
+ExecStartPost=-@QtBinariesDir@/qdbus org.kde.KSplash /KSplash org.kde.KSplash.setStage ksmserver
+BusName=org.kde.ksmserver
+Slice=plasma.slice
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=plasma-core.target
diff --git a/ksmserver/server.cpp b/ksmserver/server.cpp
--- a/ksmserver/server.cpp
+++ b/ksmserver/server.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@
 #include "kscreenlocker_interface.h"
 #include "kwinsession_interface.h"
 
+#include "../config-workspace.h"
+
 KSMServer* the_server = nullptr;
 
 KSMServer* KSMServer::self()
@@ -1063,7 +1065,16 @@
 {
     assert( state == LaunchingWM );
 
-    if (!(qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_DISPLAY") || qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_SOCKET"))) {
+    bool shouldLaunchWm = true;
+    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_DISPLAY") || qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_SOCKET")) {
+        shouldLaunchWm = false;
+    }
+
+#ifdef PLASMA_SYSTEMD_BOOT
+        shouldLaunchWm = false;
+#endif
+
+    if (shouldLaunchWm) {
         // when we have a window manager, we start it first and give
         // it some time before launching other processes. Results in a
         // visually more appealing startup.
diff --git a/login-sessions/plasmawayland-dev.desktop.cmake b/login-sessions/plasmawayland-dev.desktop.cmake
--- a/login-sessions/plasmawayland-dev.desktop.cmake
+++ b/login-sessions/plasmawayland-dev.desktop.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Desktop Entry]
-Exec=dbus-run-session @CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBEXECDIR@/startplasma-dev.sh -wayland
+Exec=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBEXECDIR@/startplasma-dev.sh -wayland
 DesktopNames=KDE
 Name=Plasma (Development, Wayland ${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR})
 Name[ast]=Plasma (Desendolcu, Wayland ${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR})
diff --git a/login-sessions/plasmawayland.desktop.cmake b/login-sessions/plasmawayland.desktop.cmake
--- a/login-sessions/plasmawayland.desktop.cmake
+++ b/login-sessions/plasmawayland.desktop.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Desktop Entry]
-Exec=dbus-run-session ${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR}/startplasma-wayland
+Exec=${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR}/startplasma-wayland
 TryExec=${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR}/startplasma-wayland
 DesktopNames=KDE
 Name=Plasma (Wayland)
diff --git a/login-sessions/startplasma-dev.sh.cmake b/login-sessions/startplasma-dev.sh.cmake
--- a/login-sessions/startplasma-dev.sh.cmake
+++ b/login-sessions/startplasma-dev.sh.cmake
@@ -2,4 +2,10 @@
 
 source @CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_LIBEXECDIR@/plasma-dev-prefix.sh
 
+# Copy systemd unit files in a custom prefix dir into the user's runtime directory
+
+mkdir -p "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/systemd/user.control"
+command cp -r @KDE_INSTALL_FULL_SYSTEMDUSERUNITDIR@/* $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/systemd/user.control
+systemctl --user daemon-reload
+
 startplasma$@
diff --git a/shell/CMakeLists.txt b/shell/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/shell/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/shell/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -87,11 +87,16 @@
 
 configure_file(org.kde.plasmashell.desktop.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop @ONLY)
 
+configure_file(plasmashell.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/plasmashell.service @ONLY)
+
 install(TARGETS plasmashell ${KDE_INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS})
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_APPDIR})
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_AUTOSTARTDIR})
 install( FILES dbus/org.kde.PlasmaShell.xml DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_DBUSINTERFACEDIR} )
 
+install( FILES  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/plasmashell.service DESTINATION
+        ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+
 install(FILES
    scripting/plasma-layouttemplate.desktop
    DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_KSERVICETYPES5DIR})
diff --git a/shell/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop.cmake b/shell/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop.cmake
--- a/shell/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop.cmake
+++ b/shell/org.kde.plasmashell.desktop.cmake
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 Name[zh_TW]=Plasma 桌面工作空間
 Type=Application
 X-KDE-StartupNotify=false
+X-KDE-HiddenUnderSystemd=true
 X-DBUS-ServiceName=org.kde.plasmashell
 OnlyShowIn=KDE;
 X-KDE-autostart-phase=0
diff --git a/shell/plasmashell.service.cmake b/shell/plasmashell.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/plasmashell.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Plasma Workspace
+Wants=ksmserver.service kcminit.service
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/plasmashell --no-respawn
+Restart=on-failure
+KillMode=process
+Type=dbus
+BusName=org.kde.plasmashell
+Slice=plasma.slice
+TimeoutSec=5sec
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=plasma-core.target
diff --git a/startkde/CMakeLists.txt b/startkde/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/startkde/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/startkde/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,7 +33,14 @@
 
 configure_file(config-startplasma.h.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/config-startplasma.h)
 
+configure_file(ksplash-ready.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ksplash-ready.service @ONLY)
+
 install(TARGETS startplasma-x11 ${KDE_INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS})
 install(TARGETS startplasma-wayland ${KDE_INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS})
 install(TARGETS startplasma-waylandsession DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_LIBEXECDIR})
 install(PROGRAMS plasma-sourceenv.sh DESTINATION ${KDE_INSTALL_LIBEXECDIR})
+
+install(FILES  plasma-workspace.target DESTINATION ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+install(FILES  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/ksplash-ready.service DESTINATION ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+
+install(FILES  plasma-core.target DESTINATION ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
diff --git a/startkde/kcminit/CMakeLists.txt b/startkde/kcminit/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/startkde/kcminit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/startkde/kcminit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@
 qt5_add_dbus_interface(kcminit_startup_KDEINIT_SRCS ${klauncher_xml} klauncher_iface)
 kf5_add_kdeinit_executable( kcminit_startup ${kcminit_startup_KDEINIT_SRCS})
 
+configure_file(kcminit.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/kcminit.service @ONLY)
+install( FILES  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/kcminit.service DESTINATION
+        ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+
+configure_file(kcminit-phase1.service.cmake ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/kcminit-phase1.service @ONLY)
+install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/kcminit-phase1.service DESTINATION
+        ${SYSTEMD_USER_UNIT_INSTALL_DIR})
+
 target_link_libraries(kdeinit_kcminit_startup Qt5::Core Qt5::Gui Qt5::DBus KF5::CoreAddons KF5::Service KF5::I18n PW::KWorkspace)
 if (XCB_XCB_FOUND)
     target_link_libraries(kdeinit_kcminit_startup XCB::XCB)
diff --git a/startkde/kcminit/kcminit-phase1.service.cmake b/startkde/kcminit/kcminit-phase1.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startkde/kcminit/kcminit-phase1.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Configuration Module Initialization (Phase 1)
+Requires=kcminit.service
+After=kcminit.service kded.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+ExecStart=@QtBinariesDir@/qdbus org.kde.kcminit /kcminit org.kde.KCMInit.runPhase1
diff --git a/startkde/kcminit/kcminit.service.cmake b/startkde/kcminit/kcminit.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startkde/kcminit/kcminit.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Config Module Initialization
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/kcminit_startup
+Restart=no
+Type=forking
+
+[Install]
+Alias=plasma-workspace.service
diff --git a/startkde/ksplash-ready.service.cmake b/startkde/ksplash-ready.service.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startkde/ksplash-ready.service.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KSplash "ready" Stage
+Wants=plasma-core.target
+After=plasma-core.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+ExecStart=-@QtBinariesDir@/qdbus org.kde.KSplash /KSplash org.kde.KSplash.setStage ready
diff --git a/startkde/plasma-core.target b/startkde/plasma-core.target
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startkde/plasma-core.target
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Plasma Workspace Core
+Wants=plasmashell.service kwin_x11.service kcminit.service kded.service kcminit-phase1.service
+Requires=ksmserver.service
+BindsTo=ksmserver.service
diff --git a/startkde/plasma-workspace.target b/startkde/plasma-workspace.target
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/startkde/plasma-workspace.target
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=KDE Plasma Workspace
+Requires=plasma-core.target ksplash-ready.service
+Wants=xdg-desktop.target
+After=plasma-core.target
diff --git a/startkde/startplasma.cpp b/startkde/startplasma.cpp
--- a/startkde/startplasma.cpp
+++ b/startkde/startplasma.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
 
 #include "startplasma.h"
 
+#include "../config-workspace.h"
+
+
 QTextStream out(stderr);
 
 void messageBox(const QString &text)
@@ -350,6 +353,30 @@
     // If the session should be locked from the start (locked autologin),
     // lock now and do the rest of the KDE startup underneath the locker.
 
+    bool rc = true;
+    QEventLoop e;
+
+    QDBusServiceWatcher serviceWatcher;
+    serviceWatcher.setConnection(QDBusConnection::sessionBus());
+
+    // We want to exit when both ksmserver and plasma-session-shutdown have finished
+    // This also closes if ksmserver crashes unexpectedly, as in those cases plasma-shutdown is not running
+    serviceWatcher.addWatchedService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.ksmserver"));
+    serviceWatcher.addWatchedService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.shutdown"));
+    serviceWatcher.setWatchMode(QDBusServiceWatcher::WatchForUnregistration);
+
+    QObject::connect(&serviceWatcher, &QDBusServiceWatcher::serviceUnregistered, [&]() {
+        const QStringList watchedServices = serviceWatcher.watchedServices();
+        bool plasmaSessionRunning = std::any_of(watchedServices.constBegin(), watchedServices.constEnd(), [](const QString &service) {
+            return QDBusConnection::sessionBus().interface()->isServiceRegistered(service);
+        });
+        if (!plasmaSessionRunning) {
+            e.quit();
+        }
+    });
+
+#ifndef PLASMA_SYSTEMD_BOOT
+    QProcess startPlasmaSession;
 
     QStringList plasmaSessionOptions;
     if (wayland) {
@@ -363,21 +390,7 @@
         }
     }
 
-    bool rc = true;
-    QEventLoop e;
-
-    QProcess startPlasmaSession;
     startPlasmaSession.setProcessChannelMode(QProcess::ForwardedChannels);
-
-    QDBusServiceWatcher serviceWatcher;
-    serviceWatcher.setConnection(QDBusConnection::sessionBus());
-
-    // We want to exit when both ksmserver and plasma-session-shutdown have finished
-    // This also closes if ksmserver crashes unexpectedly, as in those cases plasma-shutdown is not running
-    serviceWatcher.addWatchedService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.ksmserver"));
-    serviceWatcher.addWatchedService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.shutdown"));
-    serviceWatcher.setWatchMode(QDBusServiceWatcher::WatchForUnregistration);
-
     QObject::connect(&startPlasmaSession, QOverload<int, QProcess::ExitStatus>::of(&QProcess::finished), [&rc, &e](int exitCode, QProcess::ExitStatus) {
         if (exitCode == 255) {
             // Startup error
@@ -387,18 +400,23 @@
         }
     });
 
-    QObject::connect(&serviceWatcher, &QDBusServiceWatcher::serviceUnregistered, [&]() {
-        const QStringList watchedServices = serviceWatcher.watchedServices();
-        bool plasmaSessionRunning = std::any_of(watchedServices.constBegin(), watchedServices.constEnd(), [](const QString &service) {
-            return QDBusConnection::sessionBus().interface()->isServiceRegistered(service);
-        });
-        if (!plasmaSessionRunning) {
-            e.quit();
+    startPlasmaSession.start(QStringLiteral(CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR "/plasma_session"), plasmaSessionOptions);
+    rc = startPlasmaSession.waitForStarted();
+#else
+        auto msg = QDBusMessage::createMethodCall(QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.systemd1"),
+                                                                       QStringLiteral("/org/freedesktop/systemd1"),
+                                                                        QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager"),
+                                                                        QStringLiteral("StartUnit"));
+        msg << QStringLiteral("plasma-workspace.target") << QStringLiteral("fail");
+        auto reply = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().call(msg);
+        if (reply.type() == QDBusMessage::ErrorMessage) {
+            rc = false;
         }
-    });
+#endif
 
-    startPlasmaSession.start(QStringLiteral(CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR "/plasma_session"), plasmaSessionOptions);
-    e.exec();
+    if (rc) {
+        e.exec();
+    }
     return rc;
 }