diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f73b541..644ef85 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -393,6 +393,9 @@ Value to pass through to the `package` resource when creating the server instanc
 ####`plperl_package_name`
 This sets the default package name for the PL/Perl extension. Defaults to utilising the operating system default.
 
+####`service_manage`
+This setting selects whether Puppet should manage the service. Defaults to `true`.
+
 ####`service_name`
 This setting can be used to override the default postgresql service name. If not specified, the module will use whatever service name is the default for your OS distro.
 
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index a918fb1..85f3955 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class postgresql::params inherits postgresql::globals {
   $locale                     = $locale
   $service_ensure             = 'running'
   $service_enable             = true
+  $service_manage             = true
   $service_provider           = $service_provider
   $manage_pg_hba_conf         = pick($manage_pg_hba_conf, true)
   $manage_pg_ident_conf       = pick($manage_pg_ident_conf, true)
diff --git a/manifests/server.pp b/manifests/server.pp
index 960815b..0d05558 100644
--- a/manifests/server.pp
+++ b/manifests/server.pp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class postgresql::server (
 
   $service_ensure             = $postgresql::params::service_ensure,
   $service_enable             = $postgresql::params::service_enable,
+  $service_manage             = $postgresql::params::service_manage,
   $service_name               = $postgresql::params::service_name,
   $service_provider           = $postgresql::params::service_provider,
   $service_status             = $postgresql::params::service_status,
diff --git a/manifests/server/service.pp b/manifests/server/service.pp
index 18d7529..de06818 100644
--- a/manifests/server/service.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/service.pp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 class postgresql::server::service {
   $service_ensure   = $postgresql::server::service_ensure
   $service_enable   = $postgresql::server::service_enable
+  $service_manage   = $postgresql::server::service_manage
   $service_name     = $postgresql::server::service_name
   $service_provider = $postgresql::server::service_provider
   $service_status   = $postgresql::server::service_status
@@ -11,30 +12,33 @@ class postgresql::server::service {
 
   anchor { 'postgresql::server::service::begin': }
 
-  service { 'postgresqld':
-    ensure    => $service_ensure,
-    enable    => $service_enable,
-    name      => $service_name,
-    provider  => $service_provider,
-    hasstatus => true,
-    status    => $service_status,
-  }
+  if $service_manage {
 
-  if $service_ensure == 'running' {
-    # This blocks the class before continuing if chained correctly, making
-    # sure the service really is 'up' before continuing.
-    #
-    # Without it, we may continue doing more work before the database is
-    # prepared leading to a nasty race condition.
-    postgresql::validate_db_connection { 'validate_service_is_running':
-      run_as          => $user,
-      database_name   => $default_database,
-      database_port   => $port,
-      sleep           => 1,
-      tries           => 60,
-      create_db_first => false,
-      require         => Service['postgresqld'],
-      before          => Anchor['postgresql::server::service::end']
+    service { 'postgresqld':
+      ensure    => $service_ensure,
+      enable    => $service_enable,
+      name      => $service_name,
+      provider  => $service_provider,
+      hasstatus => true,
+      status    => $service_status,
+    }
+
+    if $service_ensure == 'running' {
+      # This blocks the class before continuing if chained correctly, making
+      # sure the service really is 'up' before continuing.
+      #
+      # Without it, we may continue doing more work before the database is
+      # prepared leading to a nasty race condition.
+      postgresql::validate_db_connection { 'validate_service_is_running':
+        run_as          => $user,
+        database_name   => $default_database,
+        database_port   => $port,
+        sleep           => 1,
+        tries           => 60,
+        create_db_first => false,
+        require         => Service['postgresqld'],
+        before          => Anchor['postgresql::server::service::end']
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/classes/server_spec.rb b/spec/unit/classes/server_spec.rb
index e6d0852..2fe1e31 100644
--- a/spec/unit/classes/server_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/classes/server_spec.rb
@@ -39,6 +39,19 @@ describe 'postgresql::server', :type => :class do
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'service_manage => true' do
+    let(:params) {{ :service_manage => true }}
+    it { is_expected.to contain_service('postgresqld') }
+  end
+
+  describe 'service_manage => false' do
+    let(:params) {{ :service_manage => false }}
+    it { is_expected.not_to contain_service('postgresqld') }
+    it 'shouldnt validate connection' do
+      is_expected.not_to contain_postgresql__validate_db_connection('validate_service_is_running')
+    end
+  end
+
   describe 'package_ensure => absent' do
     let(:params) do
       {