diff --git a/etc/linux-systemd/README.md b/etc/linux-systemd/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..030e7134b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etc/linux-systemd/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+This directory contains a configuration for running syncthing under the
+"systemd" service manager on Linux both under either a systemd system service or
+systemd user service.
+
+ 1. Install systemd.
+
+ 2. If you are running this as a system level service:
+
+   1. Create the user you will be running the service as (foo in this example).
+
+   2. Copy the syncthing@.service files to /etc/systemd/system
+
+   3. Enable and start the service
+      systemctl enable syncthing@foo.service
+      systemctl start syncthing@foo.service
+
+ 3. If you are running this as a user level service:
+
+   1. Log in as the user you will be running the service as
+
+   2. Copy the syncthing.service files to /etc/systemd/user
+
+   3. Enable and start the service
+      systemctl --user enable syncthing.service
+      systemctl --user start syncthing.service
+
+Log output is sent to the journal.
diff --git a/etc/systemd/system/syncthing@.service b/etc/linux-systemd/system/syncthing@.service
similarity index 100%
rename from etc/systemd/system/syncthing@.service
rename to etc/linux-systemd/system/syncthing@.service
diff --git a/etc/systemd/user/syncthing.service b/etc/linux-systemd/user/syncthing.service
similarity index 100%
rename from etc/systemd/user/syncthing.service
rename to etc/linux-systemd/user/syncthing.service