diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 56be157..c27a9c9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ What is the group used for root?
 
 What to set the package to.  Can be 'present', 'absent', or 'x.y.z'.
 
+#####`package_manage`
+
+Whether to manage the mysql server package. Defaults to true.
+
 #####`package_name`
 
 The name of the mysql server package to install.
@@ -471,6 +475,10 @@ Pass install_options array to managed package resources. You must be sure to pas
 
 What to set the package to.  Can be 'present', 'absent', or 'x.y.z'.
 
+#####`package_manage`
+
+Whether to manage the mysql client package. Defaults to true.
+
 #####`package_name`
 
 What is the name of the mysql client package to install.
diff --git a/manifests/client.pp b/manifests/client.pp
index 2b84e59..3d5d706 100644
--- a/manifests/client.pp
+++ b/manifests/client.pp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ class mysql::client (
   $bindings_enable = $mysql::params::bindings_enable,
   $install_options = undef,
   $package_ensure  = $mysql::params::client_package_ensure,
+  $package_manage  = $mysql::params::client_package_manage,
   $package_name    = $mysql::params::client_package_name,
 ) inherits mysql::params {
 
diff --git a/manifests/client/install.pp b/manifests/client/install.pp
index 068fe24..8ffff5b 100644
--- a/manifests/client/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/client/install.pp
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 class mysql::client::install {
 
-  package { 'mysql_client':
-    ensure          => $mysql::client::package_ensure,
-    install_options => $mysql::client::install_options,
-    name            => $mysql::client::package_name,
+  if $mysql::client::package_manage {
+
+    package { 'mysql_client':
+      ensure          => $mysql::client::package_ensure,
+      install_options => $mysql::client::install_options,
+      name            => $mysql::client::package_name,
+    }
+
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index 8382a7b..095a93e 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ class mysql::params {
   $restart                = false
   $root_password          = 'UNSET'
   $server_package_ensure  = 'present'
+  $server_package_manage  = true
   $server_service_manage  = true
   $server_service_enabled = true
   $client_package_ensure  = 'present'
+  $client_package_manage  = true
   $create_root_user       = true
   $create_root_my_cnf     = true
   # mysql::bindings
diff --git a/manifests/server.pp b/manifests/server.pp
index b309b7b..f3f0189 100644
--- a/manifests/server.pp
+++ b/manifests/server.pp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class mysql::server (
   $old_root_password       = $mysql::params::old_root_password,
   $override_options        = {},
   $package_ensure          = $mysql::params::server_package_ensure,
+  $package_manage          = $mysql::params::server_package_manage,
   $package_name            = $mysql::params::server_package_name,
   $purge_conf_dir          = $mysql::params::purge_conf_dir,
   $remove_default_accounts = false,
diff --git a/manifests/server/install.pp b/manifests/server/install.pp
index 5fb89db..f8b42a2 100644
--- a/manifests/server/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/install.pp
@@ -1,35 +1,38 @@
 #
 class mysql::server::install {
 
-  package { 'mysql-server':
-    ensure          => $mysql::server::package_ensure,
-    install_options => $mysql::server::install_options,
-    name            => $mysql::server::package_name,
-  }
+  if $mysql::server::package_manage {
 
-  # Build the initial databases.
-  $mysqluser = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['user']
-  $datadir = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['datadir']
-  $basedir = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['basedir']
-  $config_file = $mysql::server::config_file
+    package { 'mysql-server':
+      ensure          => $mysql::server::package_ensure,
+      install_options => $mysql::server::install_options,
+      name            => $mysql::server::package_name,
+    }
 
-  if $mysql::server::manage_config_file {
-    $install_db_args = "--basedir=${basedir} --defaults-extra-file=${config_file} --datadir=${datadir} --user=${mysqluser}"
-  } else {
-    $install_db_args = "--basedir=${basedir} --datadir=${datadir} --user=${mysqluser}"
-  }
+    # Build the initial databases.
+    $mysqluser = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['user']
+    $datadir = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['datadir']
+    $basedir = $mysql::server::options['mysqld']['basedir']
+    $config_file = $mysql::server::config_file
 
-  exec { 'mysql_install_db':
-    command   => "mysql_install_db ${install_db_args}",
-    creates   => "${datadir}/mysql",
-    logoutput => on_failure,
-    path      => '/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin',
-    require   => Package['mysql-server'],
-  }
+    if $mysql::server::manage_config_file {
+      $install_db_args = "--basedir=${basedir} --defaults-extra-file=${config_file} --datadir=${datadir} --user=${mysqluser}"
+    } else {
+      $install_db_args = "--basedir=${basedir} --datadir=${datadir} --user=${mysqluser}"
+    }
 
-  if $mysql::server::restart {
-    Exec['mysql_install_db'] {
-      notify => Class['mysql::server::service'],
+    exec { 'mysql_install_db':
+      command   => "mysql_install_db ${install_db_args}",
+      creates   => "${datadir}/mysql",
+      logoutput => on_failure,
+      path      => '/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin',
+      require   => Package['mysql-server'],
+    }
+
+    if $mysql::server::restart {
+      Exec['mysql_install_db'] {
+        notify => Class['mysql::server::service'],
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/spec/classes/mysql_client_spec.rb b/spec/classes/mysql_client_spec.rb
index 7f67f49..b2689b5 100644
--- a/spec/classes/mysql_client_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/mysql_client_spec.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,19 @@ describe 'mysql::client' do
           it { is_expected.to contain_class('mysql::bindings') }
           it { is_expected.to contain_package('mysql_client') }
         end
+
+        context 'with package_manage set to true' do
+          let(:params) {{ :package_manage => true }}
+
+          it { is_expected.to contain_package('mysql_client') }
+        end
+
+        context 'with package_manage set to false' do
+          let(:params) {{ :package_manage => false }}
+
+          it { is_expected.not_to contain_package('mysql_client') }
+        end
+
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/classes/mysql_server_spec.rb b/spec/classes/mysql_server_spec.rb
index 2058e5f..635bf57 100644
--- a/spec/classes/mysql_server_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/mysql_server_spec.rb
@@ -20,11 +20,19 @@ describe 'mysql::server' do
         end
 
         context 'mysql::server::install' do
-          it 'contains the package' do
+          it 'contains the package by default' do
             is_expected.to contain_package('mysql-server').with({
               :ensure => :present,
             })
           end
+          context 'with package_manage set to true' do
+            let(:params) {{ :package_manage => true }}
+            it { is_expected.to contain_package('mysql-server') }
+          end
+          context 'with package_manage set to false' do
+            let(:params) {{ :package_manage => false }}
+            it { is_expected.not_to contain_package('mysql-server') }
+          end
           context 'with datadir overridden' do
             let(:params) {{ :override_options => { 'mysqld' => { 'datadir' => '/tmp' }} }}
             it { is_expected.to contain_exec('mysql_install_db') }