diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7407466..5da6394 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -130,6 +130,21 @@ postfix::lookup::ldap { '/etc/postfix/virtualrecipients.cf':
 }
 ```
 
+## Service management
+
+By default this module restarts the postfix service on config changes.
+
+To prevent clients being disconnected during mail delivery,
+this behaviour can be changed using the parameter `service_restart_command` of class `postfix::init`.
+
+Note, some changes need a restart to get effect:
+[http://www.postfix.org/postconf.5.html](http://www.postfix.org/postconf.5.html)
+
+Example in Hiera for reloading postfix on changes:
+```
+postfix::service_restart_command: '/usr/bin/systemctl reload postfix.service'
+```
+
 ## Reference
 
 The reference documentation is generated with
diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index 6db34b1..0c506b3 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `postfix` class:
 * [`lookup_packages`](#lookup_packages)
 * [`package_name`](#package_name)
 * [`service_name`](#service_name)
+* [`service_restart_command`](#service_restart_command)
 * [`twobounce_notice_recipient`](#twobounce_notice_recipient)
 * [`access_map_defer_code`](#access_map_defer_code)
 * [`access_map_reject_code`](#access_map_reject_code)
@@ -878,6 +879,12 @@ Data type: `String`
 
 
 
+##### <a name="service_restart_command"></a>`service_restart_command`
+
+Data type: `String`
+
+
+
 ##### <a name="twobounce_notice_recipient"></a>`twobounce_notice_recipient`
 
 Data type: `Optional[String]`
diff --git a/data/common.yaml b/data/common.yaml
index f1d490d..ce18c8d 100644
--- a/data/common.yaml
+++ b/data/common.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ postfix::conf_dir: '/etc/postfix'
 postfix::lookup_packages: {}
 postfix::package_name: 'postfix'
 postfix::service_name: 'postfix'
+postfix::service_restart_command: ~
 postfix::services: {}
 postfix::twobounce_notice_recipient: ~
 postfix::access_map_defer_code: ~
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 4620e85..6eb3407 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 # @param lookup_packages
 # @param package_name
 # @param service_name
+# @param service_restart_command
 # @param twobounce_notice_recipient `2bounce_notice_recipient` is a violation
 #   of Puppet variable naming conventions.
 # @param access_map_defer_code
@@ -781,6 +782,7 @@
   Hash[Postfix::Type::Lookup, String] $lookup_packages,
   String                              $package_name,
   String                              $service_name,
+  Optional[String]                    $service_restart_command,
   # main.cf parameters below
   Optional[String]                    $twobounce_notice_recipient,
   Optional[String]                    $access_map_defer_code,
diff --git a/manifests/service.pp b/manifests/service.pp
index 0153e2f..f4f8e1a 100644
--- a/manifests/service.pp
+++ b/manifests/service.pp
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@
     enable     => true,
     hasstatus  => true,
     hasrestart => true,
+    restart    => $postfix::service_restart_command,
   }
 }