diff --git a/manifests/client.pp b/manifests/client.pp
index 1a18d1bd2..dab88b46a 100644
--- a/manifests/client.pp
+++ b/manifests/client.pp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 class ssh::client(
-  $options = {}
+  $options = {},
+  $ensure  = present,
 ) inherits ssh::params {
   $merged_options = merge($ssh::params::ssh_default_options, $options)
 
diff --git a/manifests/client/install.pp b/manifests/client/install.pp
index 008a040b0..6429f1563 100644
--- a/manifests/client/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/client/install.pp
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-class ssh::client::install {
+class ssh::client::install (
+  $ensure = present
+) {
   if !defined(Package[$ssh::params::client_package_name]) {
     package { $ssh::params::client_package_name:
-      ensure => present,
+      ensure => $ensure,
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/manifests/server.pp b/manifests/server.pp
index 65ca278a7..37d87cd66 100644
--- a/manifests/server.pp
+++ b/manifests/server.pp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 class ssh::server(
-  $options         = {}
+  $options         = {},
+  $ensure          = present
 ) inherits ssh::params {
   $merged_options = merge($ssh::params::sshd_default_options, $options)
 
diff --git a/manifests/server/install.pp b/manifests/server/install.pp
index e2d6669e2..a4c725e75 100644
--- a/manifests/server/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/install.pp
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-class ssh::server::install {
+class ssh::server::install (
+    $ensure = present
+) {
   include ssh::params
   if !defined(Package[$ssh::params::server_package_name]) {
     package { $ssh::params::server_package_name:
-      ensure => present,
+      ensure => $ensure,
     }
   }
 }