diff --git a/attributes/default.rb b/attributes/default.rb
index c4294a8..d893a08 100644
--- a/attributes/default.rb
+++ b/attributes/default.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 default['stash']['install_path'] = '/opt/atlassian'
 default['stash']['install_type'] = 'standalone'
 default['stash']['service_type'] = 'init'
+default['stash']['active_service'] = true
 default['stash']['url_base']     = "http://www.atlassian.com/software/stash/downloads/binary/atlassian-#{node['stash']['product']}"
 default['stash']['user']         = node['stash']['product']
 
diff --git a/recipes/service_init.rb b/recipes/service_init.rb
index aad4704..1c59158 100644
--- a/recipes/service_init.rb
+++ b/recipes/service_init.rb
@@ -25,4 +25,5 @@
   supports :status => true, :restart => true
   action [:enable]
   subscribes :restart, 'java_ark[jdk]'
+  only_if { node['stash']['active_service'] }
 end