diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index 3966853..f7419b2 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `java_artisanal` class:
 * [`source`](#-java_artisanal--source)
 * [`package`](#-java_artisanal--package)
 * [`dir`](#-java_artisanal--dir)
+* [`set_alternatives`](#-java_artisanal--set_alternatives)
 
 ##### <a name="-java_artisanal--source"></a>`source`
 
@@ -53,6 +54,14 @@ TODO this seems like something we should derive.
 
 Default value: `'jdk1.8.0_202-amd64'`
 
+##### <a name="-java_artisanal--set_alternatives"></a>`set_alternatives`
+
+Data type: `Boolean`
+
+If false, do not set the /usr/bin alternatives to point to this version.
+
+Default value: `true`
+
 ### <a name="java_artisanal--java17"></a>`java_artisanal::java17`
 
 Install jdk 17 via RPMs
@@ -64,6 +73,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `java_artisanal::java17` class:
 * [`source`](#-java_artisanal--java17--source)
 * [`package`](#-java_artisanal--java17--package)
 * [`version`](#-java_artisanal--java17--version)
+* [`set_alternatives`](#-java_artisanal--java17--set_alternatives)
 * [`source_user`](#-java_artisanal--java17--source_user)
 * [`source_pass`](#-java_artisanal--java17--source_pass)
 
@@ -91,6 +101,14 @@ String giving version of installed rpm.
 
 Default value: `'17.34+19'`
 
+##### <a name="-java_artisanal--java17--set_alternatives"></a>`set_alternatives`
+
+Data type: `Boolean`
+
+If true, set the /usr/bin alternatives to point to this version.
+
+Default value: `!$java_artisanal::set_alternatives`
+
 ##### <a name="-java_artisanal--java17--source_user"></a>`source_user`
 
 Data type: `Optional[String]`
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 045a5c6..a155884 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -16,10 +16,14 @@
 #   https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8202528
 #   TODO this seems like something we should derive.
 #
+# @param set_alternatives
+#   If false, do not set the /usr/bin alternatives to point to this version.
+#
 class java_artisanal (
   Stdlib::HTTPUrl $source = 'https://github.com/frekele/oracle-java/releases/download/8u202-b08/jdk-8u202-linux-x64.rpm',
   String          $package = 'jdk1.8',
   String          $dir     = 'jdk1.8.0_202-amd64',
+  Boolean         $set_alternatives = true,
 ) {
   yum::install { $package:
     ensure  => present,
@@ -48,8 +52,10 @@
       require  => Yum::Install[$package],
     }
 
-    alternatives { $cmd:
-      path => $dest,
+    if $set_alternatives {
+      alternatives { $cmd:
+        path => $dest,
+      }
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/manifests/java17.pp b/manifests/java17.pp
index f508221..693ac43 100644
--- a/manifests/java17.pp
+++ b/manifests/java17.pp
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 # @param version
 #   String giving version of installed rpm.
 #
+# @param set_alternatives
+#   If true, set the /usr/bin alternatives to point to this version.
+#
 # @param source_user
 #   Optional string giving username to access source URL.
 #
@@ -20,6 +23,7 @@
   String           $source      = 'https://cdn.azul.com/zulu/bin/zulu17.34.19-ca-jdk17.0.3-linux.x86_64.rpm',
   String           $package     = 'zulu-17',
   String           $version     = '17.34+19',
+  Boolean          $set_alternatives = !$java_artisanal::set_alternatives,
   Optional[String] $source_user = undef,
   Optional[String] $source_pass = undef,
 ) {
@@ -37,4 +41,32 @@
     provider => 'rpm',
     source   => $rpmfile,
   }
+
+  $cmds = [
+    'java',
+    'javac',
+#    'javaws',
+    'jar',
+    'jconsole',
+    'jstack',
+  ]
+
+  $cmds.each |$cmd| {
+    $src = "/usr/bin/${cmd}"
+    $dest = "/usr/lib/jvm/zulu-17/bin/${cmd}"
+
+    alternative_entry { $dest:
+      ensure   => present,
+      altlink  => $src,
+      altname  => $cmd,
+      priority => 900,
+      require  => Package[$package],
+    }
+
+    if $set_alternatives {
+      alternatives { $cmd:
+        path => $dest,
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/spec/classes/init_spec.rb b/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
index 5997363..c05690e 100644
--- a/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
@@ -16,13 +16,19 @@
       jconsole
       jstack
     ].each do |cmd|
+      dest = "/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_202-amd64/bin/#{cmd}"
       it do
-        dest = "/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_202-amd64/bin/#{cmd}"
         is_expected.to contain_alternative_entry(dest).with(
           ensure: 'present',
           priority: 1000
         )
       end
+
+      it do
+        is_expected.to contain_alternatives(cmd).with(
+          path: dest
+        )
+      end
     end
   end
 end