diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/systemd.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/systemd.bbclass
index 0f7e3b5..2f655c4 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/systemd.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/systemd.bbclass
@@ -29,26 +29,32 @@ python __anonymous() {
 }
 
 systemd_postinst() {
-if systemctl >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
-	OPTS=""
-
-	if [ -n "$D" ]; then
-		OPTS="--root=$D"
+if [ -n "$D" ]; then
+	# Offline/cross-install: apply presets to the target rootfs.
+	# This handles multistrap, debootstrap, and similar tools that
+	# install packages outside of Yocto's normal image creation.
+	if [ "${SYSTEMD_AUTO_ENABLE}" = "enable" ]; then
+		if systemctl --root=$D preset ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED} 2>/dev/null; then
+			:
+		elif systemctl >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
+			for service in ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}; do
+				systemctl --root=$D enable "$service" 2>/dev/null || true
+			done
+		fi
 	fi
-
+elif systemctl >/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
+	# Online: running on the target system
 	if [ "${SYSTEMD_AUTO_ENABLE}" = "enable" ]; then
 		for service in ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}; do
-			systemctl ${OPTS} enable "$service"
+			systemctl enable "$service"
 		done
 	fi
 
-	if [ -z "$D" ]; then
-		systemctl daemon-reload
-		systemctl preset ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}
+	systemctl daemon-reload
+	systemctl preset ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}
 
-		if [ "${SYSTEMD_AUTO_ENABLE}" = "enable" ]; then
-			systemctl --no-block restart ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}
-		fi
+	if [ "${SYSTEMD_AUTO_ENABLE}" = "enable" ]; then
+		systemctl --no-block restart ${SYSTEMD_SERVICE_ESCAPED}
 	fi
 fi
 }