diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index f3985f9572..0feb75c7c1 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # Copyright © 2017 Mathieu Othacehe <m.othacehe@gmail.com>
 # Copyright © 2017 Leo Famulari <leo@famulari.name>
 # Copyright © 2017 Ricardo Wurmus <rekado@elephly.net>
-# Copyright © 2017 Jan Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org>
+# Copyright © 2017, 2020 Jan (janneke) Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org>
 # Copyright © 2017 Arun Isaac <arunisaac@systemreboot.net>
 # Copyright © 2018 Nikita <nikita@n0.is>
 # Copyright © 2018 Julien Lepiller <julien@lepiller.eu>
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ AUX_FILES =						\
 EXAMPLES =					\
   gnu/system/examples/asus-c201.tmpl		\
   gnu/system/examples/bare-bones.tmpl		\
+  gnu/system/examples/bare-hurd.tmpl		\
   gnu/system/examples/beaglebone-black.tmpl	\
   gnu/system/examples/desktop.tmpl		\
   gnu/system/examples/lightweight-desktop.tmpl	\
diff --git a/gnu/services.scm b/gnu/services.scm
index 2e4648bf78..63a709fc95 100644
--- a/gnu/services.scm
+++ b/gnu/services.scm
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ;;; GNU Guix --- Functional package management for GNU
 ;;; Copyright © 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Ludovic Courtès <ludo@gnu.org>
 ;;; Copyright © 2016 Chris Marusich <cmmarusich@gmail.com>
+;;; Copyright © 2020 Jan (janneke) Nieuwenhuizen <janneke@gnu.org>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ (define-module (gnu services)
   #:use-module (guix modules)
   #:use-module (gnu packages base)
   #:use-module (gnu packages bash)
+  #:use-module (gnu packages hurd)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-1)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-9)
   #:use-module (srfi srfi-9 gnu)
diff --git a/gnu/system/examples/bare-hurd.tmpl b/gnu/system/examples/bare-hurd.tmpl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..16f20416aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gnu/system/examples/bare-hurd.tmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+;; -*-scheme-*-
+
+;; This is an operating system configuration template
+;; for a "bare bones" setup, with no X11 display server.
+
+;; To build a disk image for a virtual machine, do
+;;
+;;     ./pre-inst-env guix system disk-image --target=i586-pc-gnu --no-grafts \
+;;         gnu/system/examples/bare-hurd.tmpl
+;;
+;; it boots, but needs activation, more setup and services to be useful.
+
+(use-modules (gnu) (gnu system hurd) (guix utils))
+
+(define %hurd-os
+  (operating-system
+    (inherit %hurd-default-operating-system)
+    (bootloader (bootloader-configuration
+                 (bootloader grub-minimal-bootloader)
+                 (target "/dev/sdX")))
+    (file-systems (cons (file-system
+                          (device (file-system-label "my-root"))
+                          (mount-point "/")
+                          (type "ext2"))
+                        %base-file-systems))
+    (host-name "guixygnu")
+    (timezone "Europe/Amsterdam")
+    (packages %base-packages/hurd)
+    (services %base-services/hurd)))
+
+%hurd-os
diff --git a/gnu/system/hurd.scm b/gnu/system/hurd.scm
index 3ccf47aa21..e11055cbb8 100644
--- a/gnu/system/hurd.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/hurd.scm
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ (define-module (gnu system hurd)
   #:use-module (guix gexp)
   #:use-module (guix profiles)
   #:use-module (guix utils)
+  #:use-module (gnu bootloader)
   #:use-module (gnu bootloader grub)
   #:use-module (gnu packages admin)
   #:use-module (gnu packages base)
@@ -31,8 +32,18 @@ (define-module (gnu system hurd)
   #:use-module (gnu packages guile-xyz)
   #:use-module (gnu packages hurd)
   #:use-module (gnu packages less)
+  #:use-module (gnu services)
+  #:use-module (gnu services base)
+  #:use-module (gnu services hurd)
+  #:use-module (gnu services shepherd)
+  #:use-module (gnu system)
+  #:use-module (gnu system shadow)
   #:use-module (gnu system vm)
-  #:export (cross-hurd-image))
+  #:export (cross-hurd-image
+            %base-packages/hurd
+            %base-services/hurd
+            %hurd-default-operating-system
+            %hurd-default-operating-system-kernel))
 
 ;;; Commentary:
 ;;;
@@ -41,10 +52,42 @@ (define-module (gnu system hurd)
 ;;;
 ;;; Code:
 
+(define %hurd-default-operating-system-kernel
+  (if (hurd-system?)
+      gnumach
+      ;; A cross-built GNUmach does not work
+      (with-parameters ((%current-system "i686-linux")
+                        (%current-target-system #f))
+        gnumach)))
+
 (define %base-packages/hurd
   (list hurd bash coreutils file findutils grep sed
         guile-3.0 guile-colorized guile-readline
-        net-base inetutils less which))
+        net-base inetutils less shepherd which))
+
+(define %base-services/hurd
+  '())
+
+(define %hurd-default-operating-system
+  (operating-system
+    (kernel %hurd-default-operating-system-kernel)
+    (kernel-arguments '())
+    (hurd hurd)
+    (bootloader (bootloader-configuration
+                 (bootloader grub-minimal-bootloader)
+                 (target "/dev/vda")))
+    (initrd (lambda _ '()))
+    (initrd-modules (lambda _ '()))
+    (firmware '())
+    (host-name "guixygnu")
+    (file-systems '())
+    (packages %base-packages/hurd)
+    (timezone "GNUrope")
+    (name-service-switch #f)
+    (essential-services (hurd-default-essential-services this-operating-system))
+    (pam-services '())
+    (setuid-programs '())
+    (sudoers-file #f)))
 
 (define* (cross-hurd-image #:key (hurd hurd) (gnumach gnumach))
   "Return a cross-built GNU/Hurd image."
diff --git a/tests/guix-system.sh b/tests/guix-system.sh
index 3a831cba1d..0e22686a34 100644
--- a/tests/guix-system.sh
+++ b/tests/guix-system.sh
@@ -307,7 +307,12 @@ guix system search anonym network | grep "^name: tor"
 
 # Verify that the examples can be built.
 for example in gnu/system/examples/*.tmpl; do
-    guix system -n disk-image "$example"
+    if echo "$example" | grep hurd; then
+        target="--target=i586-pc-gnu"
+    else
+        target=
+    fi
+    guix system -n disk-image $target "$example"
 done
 
 # Verify that the disk image types can be built.