diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 7866f35..219b337 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ openvpn_scripts_dir: "{{ openvpn_etcdir }}/scripts/"
 # In some distros, the server with `foobar.conf` config file can be managed
 # using `openvpn@foobar` service
 openvpn_config_file: "{{ openvpn_etcdir }}/server.conf"
+openvpn_service_name: ''  # use the default os-dependent
 
 openvpn_client_config_dir: "{{ openvpn_etcdir }}/ovpns"
 
diff --git a/tasks/variables.yml b/tasks/variables.yml
index b08e713..29f3437 100644
--- a/tasks/variables.yml
+++ b/tasks/variables.yml
@@ -13,3 +13,7 @@
         - "Common-default.yml"
       paths:
         - 'vars/os'
+
+- name: "Set openvpn_service"
+  set_fact:
+    openvpn_service: "{{ openvpn_service_name || openvpn_service }}"