diff --git a/cockpit.changes b/cockpit.changes
index ef7278e..46e4df7 100644
--- a/cockpit.changes
+++ b/cockpit.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Fri Sep  4 12:09:16 UTC 2020 - Thorsten Kukuk <kukuk@suse.com>
+
+- cockpit-ws: don't require systemd (allows to build a very small
+  cockpit-ws container)
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mon Aug 31 15:46:35 UTC 2020 - Ludwig Nussel <lnussel@suse.de>
 
diff --git a/cockpit.spec b/cockpit.spec
index 59294c0..3c189da 100644
--- a/cockpit.spec
+++ b/cockpit.spec
@@ -472,12 +472,16 @@ Requires: group(wheel)
 Conflicts: firewalld < 0.6.0-1
 Recommends: sscg >= 2.3
 Recommends: system-logos
+%if !0%{?suse_version}
 Requires: systemd >= 235
+%endif
 Suggests: sssd-dbus
 Requires(pre): permissions
+%if !0%{?suse_version}
 Requires(post): systemd
 Requires(preun): systemd
 Requires(postun): systemd
+%endif
 
 %description ws
 The Cockpit Web Service listens on the network, and authenticates users.