diff --git a/manifests/forwarder.pp b/manifests/forwarder.pp
index 38741055..4dab5cf6 100644
--- a/manifests/forwarder.pp
+++ b/manifests/forwarder.pp
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
   $server            = $splunk::params::server,
   $package_source    = $splunk::params::forwarder_pkg_src,
   $package_name      = $splunk::params::forwarder_pkg_name,
+  $package_ensure    = $splunk::params::forwarder_pkg_ensure,
   $logging_port      = $splunk::params::logging_port,
   $splunkd_port      = $splunk::params::splunkd_port,
   $splunkd_listen    = '127.0.0.1',
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@
     }
   }
   package { $package_name:
-    ensure          => installed,
+    ensure          => $package_ensure,
     provider        => $pkg_provider,
     source          => $pkg_source,
     before          => Service[$virtual_service],
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index 99b11ef8..ef16cba5 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -225,4 +225,5 @@
   $forwarder_pkg_src = "${src_root}/${forwarder_src_subdir}/${forwarder_src_pkg}"
   $create_password   = true
 
+  $forwarder_pkg_ensure = 'installed'
 }