diff --git a/manifests/run.pp b/manifests/run.pp
index 74ddbae17..8b7d49078 100755
--- a/manifests/run.pp
+++ b/manifests/run.pp
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
   $dns = [],
   $dns_search = [],
   $lxc_conf = [],
+  $service_provider = undef,
   $service_prefix = 'docker-',
   $restart_service = true,
   $restart_service_on_docker_refresh = true,
@@ -140,6 +141,13 @@
   if $hostname {
     validate_string($hostname)
   }
+  if $service_provider == undef {
+    $valid_service_provider = $docker::params::service_provider
+  } else {
+    validate_string($service_provider)
+    $valid_service_provider = $service_provider
+  }
+
   validate_bool($running)
   validate_bool($disable_network)
   validate_bool($privileged)
@@ -245,54 +253,38 @@
     }
   } else {
 
-    case $::osfamily {
-      'Debian': {
-        $deprecated_initscript = "/etc/init/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.conf"
-        $hasstatus  = true
-        if ($::operatingsystem == 'Debian' and versioncmp($::operatingsystemmajrelease, '8') >= 0) or
-          ($::operatingsystem == 'Ubuntu' and versioncmp($::operatingsystemrelease, '15.04') >= 0) {
-          $initscript = "/etc/systemd/system/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.service"
-          $init_template = 'docker/etc/systemd/system/docker-run.erb'
-          $uses_systemd = true
-          $mode = '0640'
-        } else {
-          $uses_systemd = false
+    if $valid_service_provider == 'systemd' {
+      $initscript     = "/etc/systemd/system/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.service"
+      $init_template  = 'docker/etc/systemd/system/docker-run.erb'
+      $hasstatus      = true
+      $mode           = '0640'
+      $uses_systemd   = true
+    } else {
+      $uses_systemd   = false
+
+      case $::osfamily {
+        'Debian': {
+          $deprecated_initscript = "/etc/init/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.conf"
           $initscript = "/etc/init.d/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}"
           $init_template = 'docker/etc/init.d/docker-run.erb'
+          $hasstatus  = true
           $mode = '0750'
         }
-      }
-      'RedHat': {
-        if ($::operatingsystem == 'Amazon') or (versioncmp($::operatingsystemrelease, '7.0') < 0) {
+        'RedHat': {
           $initscript     = "/etc/init.d/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}"
           $init_template  = 'docker/etc/init.d/docker-run.erb'
           $hasstatus      = undef
           $mode           = '0750'
-          $uses_systemd   = false
-        } else {
-          $initscript     = "/etc/systemd/system/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.service"
-          $init_template  = 'docker/etc/systemd/system/docker-run.erb'
+        }
+        'Gentoo': {
+          $initscript     = "/etc/init.d/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}"
+          $init_template  = 'docker/etc/init.d/docker-run.gentoo.erb'
           $hasstatus      = true
-          $mode           = '0640'
-          $uses_systemd   = true
+          $mode           = '0770'
+        }
+        default: {
+          fail('Docker needs a Debian, RedHat, Gentoo or other systemd-based system.')
         }
-      }
-      'Archlinux': {
-        $initscript     = "/etc/systemd/system/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}.service"
-        $init_template  = 'docker/etc/systemd/system/docker-run.erb'
-        $hasstatus      = true
-        $mode           = '0640'
-        $uses_systemd   = true
-      }
-      'Gentoo': {
-        $initscript     = "/etc/init.d/${service_prefix}${sanitised_title}"
-        $init_template  = 'docker/etc/init.d/docker-run.gentoo.erb'
-        $hasstatus      = true
-        $mode           = '0770'
-        $uses_systemd   = false
-      }
-      default: {
-        fail('Docker needs a Debian, RedHat, Archlinux or Gentoo based system.')
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/spec/defines/run_spec.rb b/spec/defines/run_spec.rb
index d6c53c5f5..bb5d4eded 100755
--- a/spec/defines/run_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/run_spec.rb
@@ -145,6 +145,13 @@
         end
       end
 
+      context 'when passing `service_provider`' do
+        context 'when forcing use of systemd' do
+          let(:params) { {'command' => 'command', 'image' => 'base', 'service_provider' => 'systemd'} }
+          it { should contain_file('/etc/systemd/system/docker-sample.service') }
+        end
+      end
+
       context 'removing containers and volumes' do
         context 'when trying to remove the volume and not the container on stop' do
           let(:params) {{