diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/service/linux.rs b/espanso/src/cli/service/linux.rs
index 3f464da..e508779 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/service/linux.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/service/linux.rs
@@ -35,18 +35,23 @@ const LINUX_SERVICE_FILENAME: &str = formatcp!("{}.service", LINUX_SERVICE_NAME)
 pub fn register() -> Result<()> {
   let service_file = get_service_file_path()?;
 
-  if service_file.exists() {
-    warn_eprintln!("service file already exists, this operation will overwrite it");
+  if !service_file.exists() && is_present() {
+    // probably installed by system package
+    info_println!("skipping installation of already provided service");
+  } else {
+    if service_file.exists() {
+      warn_eprintln!("service file already exists, this operation will overwrite it");
+    }
+
+    info_println!("creating service file in {:?}", service_file);
+    let espanso_path = get_binary_path().expect("unable to get espanso executable path");
+
+    let service_content = String::from(LINUX_SERVICE_CONTENT)
+      .replace("{{{espanso_path}}}", &espanso_path.to_string_lossy());
+
+    std::fs::write(service_file, service_content)?;
   }
 
-  info_println!("creating service file in {:?}", service_file);
-  let espanso_path = get_binary_path().expect("unable to get espanso executable path");
-
-  let service_content = String::from(LINUX_SERVICE_CONTENT)
-    .replace("{{{espanso_path}}}", &espanso_path.to_string_lossy());
-
-  std::fs::write(service_file, service_content)?;
-
   info_println!("enabling systemd service");
 
   match Command::new("systemctl")
@@ -118,6 +123,17 @@ pub enum UnregisterError {
   SystemdCallFailed(anyhow::Error),
 }
 
+pub fn is_present() -> bool {
+  let res = Command::new("systemctl")
+    .args(&["--user", "cat", LINUX_SERVICE_NAME])
+    .output();
+  if let Ok(output) = res {
+    output.status.success()
+  } else {
+    false
+  }
+}
+
 pub fn is_registered() -> bool {
   let res = Command::new("systemctl")
     .args(&["--user", "is-enabled", LINUX_SERVICE_NAME])