diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index a5c9c3f1..8bac1d1b 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ Data type: `Stdlib::Ensure::Service`
 
 Whether the service should be running or stopped, defaults to true when ensure is set to present, otherwise false
 
-Default value: `$ensure ? { 'present' => 'running', 'absent' => 'stopped'`
+Default value: `$ensure ? { /(absent|purged|disabled)/ => 'stopped', default => 'running'`
 
 ##### <a name="-ssh--server--service_enable"></a>`service_enable`
 
diff --git a/manifests/server.pp b/manifests/server.pp
index 9d68cab9..823bc993 100644
--- a/manifests/server.pp
+++ b/manifests/server.pp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
   Variant[Integer, String[1]]    $config_group,
   Hash                           $default_options,
   String                         $ensure                 = present,
-  Stdlib::Ensure::Service        $service_ensure         = $ensure ? { 'present' => 'running', 'absent' => 'stopped' },
+  Stdlib::Ensure::Service        $service_ensure         = $ensure ? { /(absent|purged|disabled)/ => 'stopped', default => 'running' },
   Boolean                        $service_enable         = ($service_ensure == 'running'),
   Optional[Stdlib::Absolutepath] $include_dir            = undef,
   Stdlib::Filemode               $include_dir_mode       = '0700',