diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_vhost.rb b/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_vhost.rb
index 9dd0982dc..1349be6e5 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_vhost.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/rabbitmq_vhost.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
     end
   end
 
+  autorequire(:service) { 'rabbitmq-server' }
+
   newparam(:name, :namevar => true) do
     'name of the vhost to add'
     newvalues(/^\S+$/)