diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 9f3650e..ae82fd8 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #  `Bool`
 #   
 #   State whether or not this puppet module should manage the service.
+#   This parameter is disregarded when $ensure = absent|purge.
 #
 #   defaults to: `true`
 #
@@ -138,12 +139,14 @@
       $svc_ensure  = $service_ensure
       $svc_enable  = $service_ensure ? { 'running' => true, 'stopped' => false }
       $file_ensure = 'present'
+      $srv_manage  = $manage_service
     }
     'absent', 'purged': {
       $pkg_ensure  = $ensure
       $svc_ensure  = 'stopped'
       $svc_enable  = false
       $file_ensure = 'absent'
+      $srv_manage  = false
     }
     default: {
       fail("unsupported value of \$ensure: ${ensure}")
@@ -154,7 +157,7 @@
     ensure => $pkg_ensure,
   }
 
-  if $manage_service {
+  if $srv_manage {
     service { $service_name:
       ensure     => $svc_ensure,
       enable     => $svc_enable,