diff --git a/doc/puppet_classes/confdroid_ssh_3A_3Aparams.html b/doc/puppet_classes/confdroid_ssh_3A_3Aparams.html
index 9c3ea31..083dcf6 100644
--- a/doc/puppet_classes/confdroid_ssh_3A_3Aparams.html
+++ b/doc/puppet_classes/confdroid_ssh_3A_3Aparams.html
@@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@
         <span class='type'>(<tt>String</tt>)</span>
       
       
-        <em class="default">(defaults to: <tt>&#39;file&#39;</tt>)</em>
+        <em class="default">(defaults to: <tt>&#39;absent&#39;</tt>)</em>
       
       
         &mdash;
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ class confdroid_ssh::params (
   String $ssh_source_range                  = &#39;0.0.0.0/0&#39;,
 
   # sshd configuration 
-  String  $ssh_custom_ensure                = &#39;file&#39;,
+  String  $ssh_custom_ensure                = &#39;absent&#39;,
   Boolean $ssh_manage_config                = true,
   String  $ssh_address_family               = &#39;any&#39;,
   String  $ssh_listen_address               = &#39;0.0.0.0&#39;,
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index fa28b2d..e6fc5aa 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class confdroid_ssh::params (
   String $ssh_source_range                  = '0.0.0.0/0',
 
   # sshd configuration 
-  String  $ssh_custom_ensure                = 'file',
+  String  $ssh_custom_ensure                = 'absent',
   Boolean $ssh_manage_config                = true,
   String  $ssh_address_family               = 'any',
   String  $ssh_listen_address               = '0.0.0.0',