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/changelog/unreleased/kong/fix_service_file.yml b/changelog/unreleased/kong/fix_service_file.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..03cb98e619d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/unreleased/kong/fix_service_file.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+message: "Fixed an issue where the systemd service unit file was missing from packages."
+type: bugfix
+scope: Core
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/alpine-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/alpine-amd64.txt
index 148e352515f2..d81baedad064 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/alpine-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/alpine-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2-amd64.txt
index 3d0e4868ebe3..5a123c1bdbd8 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2023-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2023-amd64.txt
index 01328af3a9ac..0e3df9c38ef7 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2023-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/amazonlinux-2023-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/debian-11-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/debian-11-amd64.txt
index 9b20fbb595b6..dbb985c4b087 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/debian-11-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/debian-11-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/el8-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/el8-amd64.txt
index cb5d0045ac2c..b99d9e319888 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/el8-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/el8-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-20.04-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-20.04-amd64.txt
index 4c29e30d3970..dffccadd0236 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-20.04-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-20.04-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
diff --git a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-22.04-amd64.txt b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-22.04-amd64.txt
index e736498f2710..db3985d10885 100644
--- a/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-22.04-amd64.txt
+++ b/scripts/explain_manifest/fixtures/ubuntu-22.04-amd64.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 - Path      : /etc/kong/kong.logrotate
 
+- Path      : /lib/systemd/system/kong.service
+
 - Path      : /usr/local/kong/include/google
   Type      : directory
 
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