diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 09812dd..cf494c2 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -314,6 +314,16 @@ if os_type == ''
   endif
 endif
 
+# The default privileged group differs between distributions, set it accordingly if not specified
+privileged_group = get_option('privileged_group')
+if privileged_group == ''
+  if os_type == 'debian'
+    privileged_group = 'sudo'
+  else
+    privileged_group = 'wheel'
+  endif
+endif
+
 pam_include = get_option('pam_include')
 if pam_include == ''
   if ['suse', 'solaris', 'openembedded'].contains(os_type)
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index e175dec..31b7a2b 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ option('systemdsystemunitdir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'custom d
 option('libs-only', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'Only build libraries (skips building polkitd)')
 option('polkitd_user', type: 'string', value: 'polkitd', description: 'User for running polkitd (polkitd)')
 option('polkitd_uid', type: 'string', value: '-', description: 'Fixed UID for user running polkitd (polkitd)')
-option('privileged_group', type: 'string', value: 'wheel', description: 'Group to use for default privileged access')
+option('privileged_group', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Group to use for default privileged access (default: wheel)')
 
 option('authfw', type: 'combo', choices: ['pam', 'shadow', 'bsdauth'], value: 'pam', description: 'Authentication framework (pam/shadow)')
 option('os_type', type: 'combo', choices: ['redhat', 'suse', 'gentoo', 'pardus', 'solaris', 'netbsd', 'lfs', 'openembedded', 'debian', ''], value: '', description: 'distribution or OS')
diff --git a/src/polkitbackend/meson.build b/src/polkitbackend/meson.build
index 3a0efcc..fc35e19 100644
--- a/src/polkitbackend/meson.build
+++ b/src/polkitbackend/meson.build
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ configure_file(
   input: '50-default.rules.in',
   output: '@BASENAME@',
   configuration: {
-    'PRIVILEGED_GROUP': get_option('privileged_group'),
+    'PRIVILEGED_GROUP': privileged_group,
   },
   install: true,
   install_dir: pk_pkgdatadir / 'rules.d',