diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index c7a96bf..181fbf6 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   $purge        = true
 
   # apply default ulimits for OS if found
-  $use_default_ulimits = true
+  $use_default_ulimits = hiera('use_default_ulimits',true)
 
   # ulimit defaults
   case $::operatingsystem {