diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 258f9bf13..781061d4e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -381,6 +381,18 @@ repository otherwise.
 
 Boolean to determine if we should DESTROY AND DELETE the RabbitMQ database.
 
+####`rabbitmq_user`
+
+String: OS dependent, default defined in param.pp. The system user the rabbitmq daemon runs as.
+
+####`rabbitmq_group`
+
+String: OS dependent, default defined in param.pp. The system group the rabbitmq daemon runs as.
+
+####`rabbitmq_home`
+
+String: OS dependent. default defined in param.pp. The home directory of the rabbitmq deamon.
+
 ##Native Types
 
 ### rabbitmq\_user
@@ -493,9 +505,9 @@ rabbitmq_plugin {'rabbitmq_stomp':
 This is essentially a private type used by the rabbitmq::config class
 to manage the erlang cookie. It replaces the rabbitmq_erlang_cookie fact
 from earlier versions of this module. It manages the content of the cookie
-usually located at /var/lib/rabbitmq/.erlang.cookie, which includes
+usually located at "${rabbitmq_home}/.erlang.cookie", which includes
 stopping the rabbitmq service and wiping out the database at
-/var/lib/rabbitmq/mnesia if the user agrees to it. We don't recommend using
+"${rabbitmq_home}/mnesia" if the user agrees to it. We don't recommend using
 this type directly.
 
 ##Limitations
diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_erlang_cookie.rb b/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_erlang_cookie.rb
index 564af5253..c2e5898dc 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_erlang_cookie.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_erlang_cookie.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ def change_to_s(current, desired)
     newvalues(:true, :false)
   end
 
+  newparam(:rabbitmq_user) do
+    defaultto('rabbitmq')
+  end
+
+  newparam(:rabbitmq_group) do
+    defaultto('rabbitmq')
+  end
+
+  newparam(:rabbitmq_home) do
+    defaultto('/var/lib/rabbitmq')
+  end
+
   newparam(:service_name) do
     newvalues(/^\S+$/)
   end
diff --git a/manifests/config.pp b/manifests/config.pp
index e83bda986..be7169d38 100644
--- a/manifests/config.pp
+++ b/manifests/config.pp
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
   $management_port            = $rabbitmq::management_port
   $node_ip_address            = $rabbitmq::node_ip_address
   $plugin_dir                 = $rabbitmq::plugin_dir
+  $rabbitmq_user              = $rabbitmq::rabbitmq_user
+  $rabbitmq_group             = $rabbitmq::rabbitmq_group
   $rabbitmq_home              = $rabbitmq::rabbitmq_home
   $port                       = $rabbitmq::port
   $tcp_keepalive              = $rabbitmq::tcp_keepalive
@@ -102,11 +104,14 @@
       fail('You must set the $erlang_cookie value in order to configure clustering.')
     } else {
       rabbitmq_erlang_cookie { "${rabbitmq_home}/.erlang.cookie":
-        content      => $erlang_cookie,
-        force        => $wipe_db_on_cookie_change,
-        service_name => $service_name,
-        before       => File['rabbitmq.config'],
-        notify       => Class['rabbitmq::service'],
+        content        => $erlang_cookie,
+        force          => $wipe_db_on_cookie_change,
+        rabbitmq_user  => $rabbitmq_user,
+        rabbitmq_group => $rabbitmq_group,
+        rabbitmq_home  => $rabbitmq_home,
+        service_name   => $service_name,
+        before         => File['rabbitmq.config'],
+        notify         => Class['rabbitmq::service'],
       }
     }
   }