diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index eef538a..090bb09 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ All parameters are optional, unless otherwise noted.
 * `multiple`: Determines if `match` and/or `after` can change multiple lines. If set to false, an exception will be raised if more than one line matches. Valid options: 'true', 'false'. Default: Undefined.
 * `name`: Sets the name to use as the identity of the resource. This is necessary if you want the resource namevar to differ from the supplied `title` of the resource. Valid options: String. Default: Undefined.
 * `path`: **Required.** Defines the file in which Puppet will ensure the line specified by `line`. Must be an absolute path to the file.
+* `replace`: Defines whether the resource will overwrite an existing line that matches the `match` parameter. If set to false and a line is found matching the `match` param, the line will not be placed in the file. Valid options: true, false, yes, no. Default: true
 
 
 ### Functions
diff --git a/lib/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby.rb b/lib/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby.rb
index c58e27e..ea1d44d 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby.rb
@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 Puppet::Type.type(:file_line).provide(:ruby) do
   def exists?
-    lines.find do |line|
-      line.chomp == resource[:line].chomp
+    if !resource[:replace] and count_matches(match_regex) > 0
+      true
+    else
+      lines.find do |line|
+        line.chomp == resource[:line].chomp
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def create
-    if resource[:match]
-      handle_create_with_match
-    elsif resource[:after]
-      handle_create_with_after
-    else
-      append_line
+    unless !resource[:replace] and count_matches(match_regex) > 0
+      if resource[:match]
+        handle_create_with_match
+      elsif resource[:after]
+        handle_create_with_after
+      else
+        append_line
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -32,10 +38,13 @@ Puppet::Type.type(:file_line).provide(:ruby) do
     @lines ||= File.readlines(resource[:path])
   end
 
+  def match_regex
+    resource[:match] ? Regexp.new(resource[:match]) : nil
+  end
+
   def handle_create_with_match()
-    regex = resource[:match] ? Regexp.new(resource[:match]) : nil
     regex_after = resource[:after] ? Regexp.new(resource[:after]) : nil
-    match_count = count_matches(regex)
+    match_count = count_matches(match_regex)
 
     if match_count > 1 && resource[:multiple].to_s != 'true'
      raise Puppet::Error, "More than one line in file '#{resource[:path]}' matches pattern '#{resource[:match]}'"
@@ -43,7 +52,7 @@ Puppet::Type.type(:file_line).provide(:ruby) do
 
     File.open(resource[:path], 'w') do |fh|
       lines.each do |l|
-        fh.puts(regex.match(l) ? resource[:line] : l)
+        fh.puts(match_regex.match(l) ? resource[:line] : l)
         if (match_count == 0 and regex_after)
           if regex_after.match(l)
             fh.puts(resource[:line])
diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/file_line.rb b/lib/puppet/type/file_line.rb
index 29f9538..190105c 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/file_line.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/file_line.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+require 'puppet/parameter/boolean'
 Puppet::Type.newtype(:file_line) do
 
   desc <<-EOT
@@ -78,6 +79,11 @@ Puppet::Type.newtype(:file_line) do
     end
   end
 
+  newparam(:replace, :boolean => true, :parent => Puppet::Parameter::Boolean) do
+    desc 'If true, replace line that matches. If false, do not write line if a match is found'
+    defaultto true
+  end
+
   # Autorequire the file resource if it's being managed
   autorequire(:file) do
     self[:path]
diff --git a/spec/unit/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby_spec.rb b/spec/unit/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby_spec.rb
index 8fe3932..5eff09a 100755
--- a/spec/unit/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/puppet/provider/file_line/ruby_spec.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,58 @@ describe provider_class do
       expect(File.read(tmpfile).chomp).to eq('foo')
     end
   end
+  context 'when using replace' do
+    before :each do
+      # TODO: these should be ported over to use the PuppetLabs spec_helper
+      #  file fixtures once the following pull request has been merged:
+      # https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppetlabs-stdlib/pull/73/files
+      tmp = Tempfile.new('tmp')
+      @tmpfile = tmp.path
+      tmp.close!
+      @resource = Puppet::Type::File_line.new(
+        {
+          :name    => 'foo',
+          :path    => @tmpfile,
+          :line    => 'foo = bar',
+          :match   => '^foo\s*=.*$',
+          :replace => false,
+        }
+      )
+      @provider = provider_class.new(@resource)
+    end
 
+    it 'should not replace the matching line' do
+      File.open(@tmpfile, 'w') do |fh|
+        fh.write("foo1\nfoo=blah\nfoo2\nfoo3")
+      end
+      expect(@provider.exists?).to be_truthy
+      @provider.create
+      expect(File.read(@tmpfile).chomp).to eql("foo1\nfoo=blah\nfoo2\nfoo3")
+    end
+
+    it 'should append the line if no matches are found' do
+      File.open(@tmpfile, 'w') do |fh|
+        fh.write("foo1\nfoo2")
+      end
+      expect(@provider.exists?).to be_nil
+      @provider.create
+      expect(File.read(@tmpfile).chomp).to eql("foo1\nfoo2\nfoo = bar")
+    end
+
+    it 'should raise an error with invalid values' do
+      expect {
+        @resource = Puppet::Type::File_line.new(
+          {
+            :name     => 'foo',
+            :path     => @tmpfile,
+            :line     => 'foo = bar',
+            :match    => '^foo\s*=.*$',
+            :replace  => 'asgadga',
+          }
+        )
+      }.to raise_error(Puppet::Error, /Invalid value "asgadga"\. Valid values are true, false, yes, no\./)
+    end
+  end
   context "when matching" do
     before :each do
       # TODO: these should be ported over to use the PuppetLabs spec_helper
diff --git a/spec/unit/puppet/type/file_line_spec.rb b/spec/unit/puppet/type/file_line_spec.rb
index 410d0bf..58c88e3 100755
--- a/spec/unit/puppet/type/file_line_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/puppet/type/file_line_spec.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ describe Puppet::Type.type(:file_line) do
   it 'should default to ensure => present' do
     expect(file_line[:ensure]).to eq :present
   end
+  it 'should default to replace => true' do
+    expect(file_line[:replace]).to eq true
+  end
 
   it "should autorequire the file it manages" do
     catalog = Puppet::Resource::Catalog.new