diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 4aa68a7a4..482e2f73a 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -57,10 +57,12 @@
   $java_package            = undef,
   $min_session_timeout     = undef,
   $max_session_timeout     = undef,
+  $manage_systemd          = true,
 ) {
 
   validate_array($packages)
   validate_bool($ensure_cron)
+  validate_bool($manage_systemd)
 
   anchor { 'zookeeper::start': }->
   class { 'zookeeper::install':
diff --git a/manifests/service.pp b/manifests/service.pp
index a415fab2a..280645e14 100644
--- a/manifests/service.pp
+++ b/manifests/service.pp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     default: { $initstyle = 'unknown' }
   }
 
-  if ($initstyle == 'systemd') {
+  if ($initstyle == 'systemd' and $manage_systemd) {
     file { '/usr/lib/systemd/system/zookeeper.service':
       ensure  => 'present',
       content => template('zookeeper/zookeeper.service.erb'),