diff --git a/build/package/nfpm.yaml b/build/package/nfpm.yaml
index 7c3940903cb1..419b23ff6756 100644
--- a/build/package/nfpm.yaml
+++ b/build/package/nfpm.yaml
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ contents:
   dst: /etc/kong
 - src: bin/kong
   dst: /usr/local/bin/kong
+- src: build/package/kong.service
+  dst: /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
 - src: build/package/kong.logrotate
   dst: /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 scripts:
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/suites.py b/scripts/explain_manifest/suites.py
index 29fc4e7d1412..9f63d4c660ff 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/suites.py
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/suites.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ def common_suites(expect, libxcrypt_no_obsolete_api: bool = False):
 
     expect("/etc/kong/kong.logrotate", "includes logrotate config").exists()
 
+    expect("/lib/systemd/system/kong.service", "includes systemd unit file").exists()
+
     expect("/usr/local/kong/include/openssl/**.h", "includes OpenSSL headers").exists()
 
     # binary correctness