diff --git a/manifests/swh/deploy/worker/instance.pp b/manifests/swh/deploy/worker/instance.pp
index 4519b22f..b3a60f2f 100644
--- a/manifests/swh/deploy/worker/instance.pp
+++ b/manifests/swh/deploy/worker/instance.pp
@@ -1,66 +1,68 @@
 # Instance of a worker
 define profile::swh::deploy::worker::instance (
   $ensure = present,
   $task_broker = '',
   $task_modules = [],
   $task_queues = [],
   $task_soft_time_limit = 0,
   $concurrency = 10,
   $loglevel = 'info',
   $max_tasks_per_child = 5,
   $instance_name = $title,
   $limit_no_file = undef,
   $private_tmp = undef)
 {
   include ::profile::swh::deploy::worker::base
 
   $service_basename = "swh-worker@${instance_name}"
   $service_name = "${service_basename}.service"
   $config_directory = '/etc/softwareheritage/worker'
   $instance_config = "${config_directory}/${instance_name}.ini"
 
   case $ensure {
     'present', 'running': {
       # Uses variables
       # - $concurrency
       # - $loglevel
       # - $max_tasks_per_child
       ::systemd::dropin_file {"${service_basename}/parameters.conf":
         ensure   => present,
         unit     => $service_name,
         filename => 'parameters.conf',
         content  => template('profile/swh/deploy/worker/parameters.conf.erb'),
       }
 
       # Uses variables
       # - $task_broker
       # - $task_modules
       # - $task_queues
       # - $task_soft_time_limit
       file {$instance_config:
         ensure  => present,
         owner   => 'swhworker',
         group   => 'swhdev',
         # contains a password for the broker
         mode    => '0640',
         content => template('profile/swh/deploy/worker/instance_config.ini.erb'),
       }
-      service {$service_basename:
-        ensure  => $ensure,
-        require => [
-          File[$instance_config],
-        ],
+      if $ensure == 'running' {
+        service {$service_basename:
+          ensure  => $ensure,
+          require => [
+            File[$instance_config],
+          ],
+        }
       }
     }
     default: {
       file {$instance_config:
         ensure => absent,
       }
       ::systemd::dropin_file {"${service_basename}/parameters.conf":
         ensure   => absent,
         unit     => $service_name,
         filename => 'parameters.conf',
       }
     }
   }
 }