# man > deb-systemd-invoke(1p)

---
type: CommandReference
command: deb-systemd-invoke
mode: man
section: 1p
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference

- `deb-systemd-invoke start <unit>` — Start a systemd unit, respecting policy-rc.d
- `deb-systemd-invoke stop <unit>` — Stop a systemd unit
- `deb-systemd-invoke restart <unit>` — Restart a systemd unit
- `deb-systemd-invoke --user start <unit>` — Start a user unit, respecting policy-rc.d

## Name

`deb-systemd-invoke` — wrapper around systemctl, respecting policy-rc.d

## Synopsis

`deb-systemd-invoke` [`--user`] `start|stop|restart` _unit_file_ ...

## Description

`deb-systemd-invoke` is a Debian-specific helper script that consults `/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d` before performing a `systemctl` call. It is intended for use from maintscripts to start systemd unit files, **not** for interactive use. Users should run `systemctl` directly, or ignore the systemd enabled state if not running systemd.

## Options

- `--user` — Operate on user units instead of system units.

## See Also

- `systemctl(1)` — The underlying command that `deb-systemd-invoke` wraps.