diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index 1e468dd4..a3128636 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `jira` class:
 * [`product`](#-jira--product)
 * [`installdir`](#-jira--installdir)
 * [`homedir`](#-jira--homedir)
+* [`manage_homedir`](#-jira--manage_homedir)
 * [`manage_user`](#-jira--manage_user)
 * [`user`](#-jira--user)
 * [`group`](#-jira--group)
@@ -205,6 +206,14 @@ The directory for JIRA's runtime data that persists between versions.
 
 Default value: `'/home/jira'`
 
+##### <a name="-jira--manage_homedir"></a>`manage_homedir`
+
+Data type: `Boolean`
+
+Whether to manage the homedir
+
+Default value: `true`
+
 ##### <a name="-jira--manage_user"></a>`manage_user`
 
 Data type: `Boolean`
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 0761a0c6..c89cb162 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #   The directory in which JIRA software packages will be extracted
 # @param homedir
 #   The directory for JIRA's runtime data that persists between versions.
+# @param manage_homedir
+#   Whether to manage the homedir
 # @param manage_user
 #   Whether to manage the service user
 # @param user
@@ -288,6 +290,7 @@
   String[1] $product                                                = 'jira',
   Stdlib::Absolutepath $installdir                                  = '/opt/jira',
   Stdlib::Absolutepath $homedir                                     = '/home/jira',
+  Boolean $manage_homedir                                           = true,
   Boolean $manage_user                                              = true,
   String $user                                                      = 'jira',
   String $group                                                     = 'jira',
diff --git a/manifests/install.pp b/manifests/install.pp
index 5cc1bc0b..d907e87b 100644
--- a/manifests/install.pp
+++ b/manifests/install.pp
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@
     }
   }
 
-  file { $jira::homedir:
-    ensure => 'directory',
-    owner  => $jira::user,
-    group  => $jira::group,
-    mode   => $jira::homedir_mode,
+  if $jira::manage_homedir {
+    file { $jira::homedir:
+      ensure => 'directory',
+      owner  => $jira::user,
+      group  => $jira::group,
+      mode   => $jira::homedir_mode,
+    }
   }
 
   if ! defined(File[$jira::installdir]) {