diff --git a/manifests/configfile.pp b/manifests/configfile.pp
index eb8c9719..c903e64d 100644
--- a/manifests/configfile.pp
+++ b/manifests/configfile.pp
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 #
 # Parameters are mutually exclusive. Only one should be specified.
 #
+# @param [String] ensure
+# Ensure the file is either [`present`,`absent`].
+# Useful if you want to place the file on some servers but specifically not on (or remove from) other servers
+#
 # @param [String] content
 #  Literal content to be placed in the file.
 #
@@ -42,6 +46,7 @@
 # @author https://github.com/elastic/puppet-logstash/graphs/contributors
 #
 define logstash::configfile (
+  Enum['present', 'absent'] $ensure = $logstash::ensure,
   $content = undef,
   $source = undef,
   $template = undef,
@@ -64,6 +69,7 @@
 
   if($config) {
     file { $config_file:
+      ensure  => $ensure,
       content => $config,
       owner   => $owner,
       group   => $group,
@@ -74,6 +80,7 @@
   }
   elsif($source) {
     file { $config_file:
+      ensure  => $ensure,
       source  => $source,
       owner   => $owner,
       group   => $group,
diff --git a/manifests/patternfile.pp b/manifests/patternfile.pp
index 4490ff15..fe85b53a 100644
--- a/manifests/patternfile.pp
+++ b/manifests/patternfile.pp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 # @author https://github.com/elastic/puppet-logstash/graphs/contributors
 #
 define logstash::patternfile (
+  $ensure                                  = $::logstash::ensure,
   Pattern[/^(puppet|file):\/\//] $source   = undef,
   Optional[String[1]]            $filename = undef,
 ) {
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@
   $destination = pick($filename, basename($source))
 
   file { "${logstash::config_dir}/patterns/${destination}":
-    ensure => file,
+    ensure => $ensure,
     source => $source,
     owner  => 'root',
     group  => $logstash::logstash_group,