diff --git a/REFERENCE.md b/REFERENCE.md
index d5d9ee9..1a4d504 100644
--- a/REFERENCE.md
+++ b/REFERENCE.md
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ The following parameters are available in the `unbound` class:
 * [`hints_file`](#-unbound--hints_file)
 * [`hints_file_content`](#-unbound--hints_file_content)
 * [`unbound_version`](#-unbound--unbound_version)
+* [`force_restart`](#-unbound--force_restart)
 * [`manage_service`](#-unbound--manage_service)
 * [`verbosity`](#-unbound--verbosity)
 * [`statistics_interval`](#-unbound--statistics_interval)
@@ -274,6 +275,15 @@ the version of the installed unbound instance. defaults to the fact, but you can
 
 Default value: `$facts['unbound_version']`
 
+##### <a name="-unbound--force_restart"></a>`force_restart`
+
+Data type: `Boolean`
+
+if true and manage_service is also true the unbound service will be restarted instead
+of reloaded.
+
+Default value: `false`
+
 ##### <a name="-unbound--manage_service"></a>`manage_service`
 
 Data type: `Boolean`
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index edce29e..3060b6a 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #   Contents of the root hints file, if it's not remotely fetched.
 # @param unbound_version
 #   the version of the installed unbound instance. defaults to the fact, but you can overwrite it. this reduces the initial puppet runs from two to one
+# @param force_restart if true and manage_service is also true the unbound service will be restarted instead
+#   of reloaded.
 class unbound (
   Boolean                                       $manage_service                  = true,
   Integer[0,5]                                  $verbosity                       = 1,
@@ -185,6 +187,7 @@
   Boolean                                       $service_enable                  = true,
   String[1]                                     $validate_cmd                    = '/usr/sbin/unbound-checkconf %',
   String[1]                                     $restart_cmd                     = "/bin/systemctl restart ${service_name}",
+  Boolean                                       $force_restart                   = false,
   Array[String[1]]                              $custom_server_conf              = [],
   Boolean                                       $skip_roothints_download         = false,
   Optional[Stdlib::Absolutepath]                $python_script                   = undef,
@@ -273,9 +276,13 @@
       require     => $service_reuse,
     }
     if $manage_service {
+      $service_require = { 'require' => Class['unbound::remote'] }
+      $service_params = $force_restart ? {
+        true  => $service_require,
+        false => $service_require + { 'restart' => "${control_path} reload" },
+      }
       Service[$service_name] {
-        restart   => "${control_path} reload",
-        require   => Class['unbound::remote'],
+        * => $service_params,
       }
     }
     include unbound::remote
diff --git a/spec/classes/init_spec.rb b/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
index d6eea4d..467c022 100644
--- a/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/init_spec.rb
@@ -33,16 +33,19 @@
         let(:service) { 'unbound' }
         let(:conf_dir) { '/etc/unbound' }
         let(:purge_unbound_conf_d) { true }
+        let(:control_path) { '/usr/sbin/unbound-control' }
       when 'OpenBSD'
         pidfile = '/var/run/unbound.pid'
         let(:service) { 'unbound' }
         let(:conf_dir) { '/var/unbound/etc' }
         let(:purge_unbound_conf_d) { false }
+        let(:control_path) { '/usr/sbin/unbound-control' }
       when 'FreeBSD'
         pidfile = '/usr/local/etc/unbound/unbound.pid'
         let(:service) { 'unbound' }
         let(:conf_dir) { '/usr/local/etc/unbound' }
         let(:purge_unbound_conf_d) { false }
+        let(:control_path) { '/usr/local/sbin/unbound-control' }
       when 'Darwin'
         pidfile = '/var/run/unbound.pid'
         let(:service) { 'org.macports.unbound' }
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@
         let(:service) { 'unbound' }
         let(:conf_dir) { '/etc/unbound' }
         let(:purge_unbound_conf_d) { false }
+        let(:control_path) { '/usr/sbin/unbound-control' }
       end
 
       context 'with default params' do
@@ -950,6 +954,8 @@
           )
         end
 
+        it { is_expected.to contain_service(service).with_restart("#{control_path} reload") }
+
         case facts[:os]['family']
         when 'FreeBSD'
           it { is_expected.to contain_exec('unbound-control-setup').with_command('/usr/local/sbin/unbound-control-setup -d /usr/local/etc/unbound') }
@@ -1151,6 +1157,13 @@
             )
         end
       end
+
+      context 'with force_restart' do
+        let(:params) { { force_restart: true, control_enable: true } }
+
+        it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
+        it { is_expected.to contain_service(service).with_restart(nil) }
+      end
     end
   end
   # rubocop:enable RSpec/MultipleMemoizedHelpers