diff --git a/distribution/src/main/packaging/scripts/postinst b/distribution/src/main/packaging/scripts/postinst
index 6d19e5f33c736..91042ffbf50ec 100644
--- a/distribution/src/main/packaging/scripts/postinst
+++ b/distribution/src/main/packaging/scripts/postinst
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ case "$1" in
     ;;
 esac
 
+# to pick up /usr/lib/sysctl.d/elasticsearch.conf
+if command -v /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-sysctl > /dev/null; then
+    /usr/lib/systemd/systemd-sysctl
+fi
+
 if [ "x$IS_UPGRADE" != "xtrue" ]; then
     if command -v systemctl >/dev/null; then
         echo "### NOT starting on installation, please execute the following statements to configure elasticsearch service to start automatically using systemd"
diff --git a/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/os_package.bash b/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/os_package.bash
index 42047d0e6c681..9d7765cdb8f88 100644
--- a/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/os_package.bash
+++ b/qa/vagrant/src/test/resources/packaging/scripts/os_package.bash
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ verify_package_installation() {
         assert_file "/usr/lib/systemd/system/elasticsearch.service" f root root 644
         assert_file "/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/elasticsearch.conf" f root root 644
         assert_file "/usr/lib/sysctl.d/elasticsearch.conf" f root root 644
+        [[ $(sysctl vm.max_map_count) =~ "vm.max_map_count = 262144" ]]
     fi
 
     if is_sysvinit; then