diff --git a/defaults/main.yaml b/defaults/main.yaml
index 6341060..d967a97 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -59,14 +59,8 @@ zuul_install_method: git
 zuul_pip_version:
 
 # tasks/service.yaml
-zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
 zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_group: root
-zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode: "0644"
 zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_owner: root
-zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src: ../../files/etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
 
-zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service
 zuul_file_zuul_server_service_group: root
-zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode: "0644"
 zuul_file_zuul_server_service_owner: root
-zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src: ../../files/etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service
diff --git a/files/etc/init.d/zuul-merger b/files/etc/init.d/zuul-merger
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1312e07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/etc/init.d/zuul-merger
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+### BEGIN INIT INFO
+# Provides:          zuul
+# Required-Start:    $remote_fs $syslog
+# Required-Stop:     $remote_fs $syslog
+# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
+# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
+# Short-Description: Zuul
+# Description:       Trunk gating system merger
+### END INIT INFO
+
+# Do NOT "set -e"
+
+# PATH should only include /usr/* if it runs after the mountnfs.sh script
+PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin
+DESC="Zuul Merger"
+NAME=zuul-merger
+DAEMON=zuul-merger
+PIDFILE=/var/run/$NAME/$NAME.pid
+SCRIPTNAME=/etc/init.d/$NAME
+USER=zuul
+
+# Exit if the package is not installed
+[ -x "$DAEMON" ] || exit 0
+
+# Read configuration variable file if it is present
+[ -r /etc/default/$NAME ] && . /etc/default/$NAME
+
+# Load the VERBOSE setting and other rcS variables
+. /lib/init/vars.sh
+
+# Define LSB log_* functions.
+# Depend on lsb-base (>= 3.0-6) to ensure that this file is present.
+. /lib/lsb/init-functions
+
+#
+# Function that starts the daemon/service
+#
+do_start()
+{
+    # Return
+    #   0 if daemon has been started
+    #   1 if daemon was already running
+    #   2 if daemon could not be started
+    #   3 if pid file already exist
+
+    mkdir -p /var/run/$NAME
+    chown $USER /var/run/$NAME
+    if [ -f $PIDFILE ]; then
+        return 3
+    fi
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE -c $USER \
+        --exec $DAEMON --test > /dev/null || return 1
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE -c $USER \
+        --exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS || return 2
+    # Add code here, if necessary, that waits for the process to be ready
+    # to handle requests from services started subsequently which depend
+    # on this one.  As a last resort, sleep for some time.
+}
+
+#
+# Function that stops the daemon/service
+#
+do_stop()
+{
+    # Return
+    #   0 if daemon has been stopped
+    #   1 if daemon was already stopped
+    #   2 if daemon could not be stopped
+    #   other if a failure occurred
+    start-stop-daemon --stop --signal 9 --pidfile $PIDFILE
+    RETVAL="$?"
+    [ "$RETVAL" = 2 ] && return 2
+    rm -f /var/run/$NAME/*
+    return "$RETVAL"
+}
+ 
+#
+# Function that sends a SIGHUP to the daemon/service
+#
+do_reload() {
+    #
+    # If the daemon can reload its configuration without
+    # restarting (for example, when it is sent a SIGHUP),
+    # then implement that here.
+    #
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --stop --signal 1 --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --name $DAEMON
+    return 0
+}
+
+case "$1" in
+    start)
+        [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Starting $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_start
+        case "$?" in
+            0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
+            2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
+            3) echo "Pidfile at $PIDFILE already exists, run service zuul-merger stop to clean up."
+        esac
+        ;;
+    stop)
+        [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Stopping $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_stop
+        case "$?" in
+            0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
+            2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
+        esac
+        ;;
+    status)
+       status_of_proc "$DAEMON" "$NAME" && exit 0 || exit $?
+       ;;
+    reload|force-reload)
+        #
+        # If do_reload() is not implemented then leave this commented out
+        # and leave 'force-reload' as an alias for 'restart'.
+        #
+        log_daemon_msg "Reloading $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_reload
+        log_end_msg $?
+        ;;
+    restart)
+        #
+        # If the "reload" option is implemented then remove the
+        # 'force-reload' alias
+        #
+        log_daemon_msg "Restarting $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_stop
+        do_start
+        ;;
+    *)
+        #echo "Usage: $SCRIPTNAME {start|stop|restart|reload|force-reload}" >&2
+        echo "Usage: $SCRIPTNAME {start|stop|status|restart|force-reload}" >&2
+        exit 3
+        ;;
+esac
+
+:
diff --git a/files/etc/init.d/zuul-server b/files/etc/init.d/zuul-server
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a64967
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/etc/init.d/zuul-server
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+### BEGIN INIT INFO
+# Provides:          zuul
+# Required-Start:    $remote_fs $syslog
+# Required-Stop:     $remote_fs $syslog
+# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
+# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
+# Short-Description: Zuul
+# Description:       Trunk gating system
+### END INIT INFO
+
+# PATH should only include /usr/* if it runs after the mountnfs.sh script
+PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin
+DESC="Zuul"
+NAME=zuul
+DAEMON=zuul-server
+PIDFILE=/var/run/$NAME/$NAME.pid
+SCRIPTNAME=/etc/init.d/$NAME
+USER=zuul
+
+# Exit if the package is not installed
+[ -x "$DAEMON" ] || exit 0
+
+# Read configuration variable file if it is present
+[ -r /etc/default/$NAME ] && . /etc/default/$NAME
+
+# Load the VERBOSE setting and other rcS variables
+. /lib/init/vars.sh
+
+# Define LSB log_* functions.
+# Depend on lsb-base (>= 3.0-6) to ensure that this file is present.
+. /lib/lsb/init-functions
+
+#
+# Function that starts the daemon/service
+#
+do_start()
+{
+    # Return
+    #   0 if daemon has been started
+    #   1 if daemon was already running
+    #   2 if daemon could not be started
+    #   3 if pid file exits already
+
+    mkdir -p /var/run/$NAME
+    chown $USER /var/run/$NAME
+    if [ -f $PIDFILE ]; then
+        return 3
+    fi
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE -c $USER \
+        --exec $DAEMON --test > /dev/null || return 1
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --start --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE -c $USER \
+        --exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_ARGS || return 2
+    # Add code here, if necessary, that waits for the process to be ready
+    # to handle requests from services started subsequently which depend
+    # on this one.  As a last resort, sleep for some time.
+}
+
+#
+# Function that stops the daemon/service
+#
+do_stop()
+{
+    # Return
+    #   0 if daemon has been stopped
+    #   1 if daemon was already stopped
+    #   2 if daemon could not be stopped
+    #   other if a failure occurred
+    start-stop-daemon --stop --signal 9 --pidfile $PIDFILE
+    RETVAL="$?"
+    [ "$RETVAL" = 2 ] && return 2
+    rm -f /var/run/$NAME/*
+    return "$RETVAL"
+}
+
+#
+# Function that stops the daemon/service
+#
+do_graceful_stop()
+{
+    PID=`cat $PIDFILE`
+    kill -USR1 $PID
+
+    # wait until really stopped
+    if [ -n "${PID:-}" ]; then
+        i=0
+        while kill -0 "${PID:-}" 2> /dev/null;  do
+            if [ $i -eq '0' ]; then
+                echo -n " ... waiting "
+            else
+                echo -n "."
+            fi
+            i=$(($i+1))
+            sleep 1
+        done
+    fi
+
+    rm -f /var/run/$NAME/*
+}
+
+#
+# Function that sends a SIGHUP to the daemon/service
+#
+do_reload() {
+    #
+    # If the daemon can reload its configuration without
+    # restarting (for example, when it is sent a SIGHUP),
+    # then implement that here.
+    #
+    start-stop-daemon \
+        --stop --signal 1 --quiet --pidfile $PIDFILE --name $DAEMON
+    return 0
+}
+
+case "$1" in
+    start)
+        [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Starting $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_start
+        case "$?" in
+            0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
+            2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
+            3) echo "Pidfile at $PIDFILE already exists, run service zuul stop to clean up." ;;
+        esac
+        ;;
+    stop)
+        [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_daemon_msg "Stopping $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_stop
+        case "$?" in
+            0|1) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 0 ;;
+            2) [ "$VERBOSE" != no ] && log_end_msg 1 ;;
+        esac
+        ;;
+    status)
+        status_of_proc "$DAEMON" "$NAME" && exit 0 || exit $?
+        ;;
+    reload|force-reload)
+        #
+        # If do_reload() is not implemented then leave this commented out
+        # and leave 'force-reload' as an alias for 'restart'.
+        #
+        log_daemon_msg "Reloading $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_reload
+        log_end_msg $?
+        ;;
+    restart)
+        #
+        # If the "reload" option is implemented then remove the
+        # 'force-reload' alias
+        #
+        log_daemon_msg "Restarting $DESC" "$NAME"
+        do_graceful_stop
+        do_start
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Usage: $SCRIPTNAME {start|stop|status|restart|force-reload}" >&2
+        exit 3
+        ;;
+esac
+
+:
diff --git a/tasks/service.yaml b/tasks/service.yaml
index 8af75b3..926a1e4 100644
--- a/tasks/service.yaml
+++ b/tasks/service.yaml
@@ -12,5 +12,63 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 ---
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest is not defined
+
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode is not defined
+
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src is not defined
+
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest is not defined
+
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode is not defined
+
+- name: Define zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src.
+  set_fact:
+    zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src: "{{ __zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src }}"
+  when: zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src is not defined
+
+- name: Copy zuul-merger service into place.
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest }}"
+    group: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_group }}"
+    mode: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode }}"
+    owner: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_owner }}"
+    src: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src }}"
+
+- name: Copy zuul-server service into place.
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest }}"
+    group: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_group }}"
+    mode: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode }}"
+    owner: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_owner }}"
+    src: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src }}"
+
 - include: service/redhat.yaml
   when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
+
+- name: Enable zuul-merger service.
+  service:
+    enabled: yes
+    name: zuul-merger
+    state: started
+
+- name: Enable zuul-server service.
+  service:
+    enabled: yes
+    name: zuul-server
+    state: started
diff --git a/tasks/service/redhat.yaml b/tasks/service/redhat.yaml
index 06ed918..989e7c7 100644
--- a/tasks/service/redhat.yaml
+++ b/tasks/service/redhat.yaml
@@ -12,35 +12,7 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 ---
-- name: Copy systemd file into place for zuul-merger.
-  copy:
-    dest: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest }}"
-    group: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_group }}"
-    mode: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode }}"
-    owner: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_owner }}"
-    src: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src }}"
-
-- name: Copy systemd file into place for zuul-server.
-  copy:
-    dest: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest }}"
-    group: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_group }}"
-    mode: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode }}"
-    owner: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_owner }}"
-    src: "{{ zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src }}"
-
 - name: Copy sysconfig file into place.
   copy:
     dest: /etc/sysconfig/zuul
     src: ../../files/zuul.sysconfig
-
-- name: Enable zuul-merger service.
-  service:
-    enabled: yes
-    name: zuul-merger
-    state: started
-
-- name: Enable zuul-server service.
-  service:
-    enabled: yes
-    name: zuul-server
-    state: started
diff --git a/tests/test.yaml b/tests/test.yaml
index a362cee..1bfd7aa 100644
--- a/tests/test.yaml
+++ b/tests/test.yaml
@@ -85,30 +85,66 @@
       register: result
       failed_when: result.stdout != "0"
 
+    - name: Register /etc/init.d/zuul-merger
+      stat:
+        path: /etc/init.d/zuul-merger
+      register: debian_zuul_merger_service_stat
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+    - name: Assert debian_zuul_merger_service_stat tests.
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - debian_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.exists
+          - debian_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.isreg
+          - debian_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
+          - debian_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
+          - debian_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.mode == '0755'
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+    - name: Register /etc/init.d/zuul-server
+      stat:
+        path: /etc/init.d/zuul-server
+      register: debian_zuul_server_service_stat
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+    - name: Assert debian_zuul_server_service_stat tests.
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - debian_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.exists
+          - debian_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.isreg
+          - debian_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
+          - debian_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
+          - debian_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.mode == '0755'
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
     - name: Register /etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
       stat:
         path: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
-      register: zuul_merger_service_stat
+      register: redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
-    - name: Assert zuul_merger_service_stat tests.
+    - name: Assert redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat tests.
       assert:
         that:
-          - zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.exists
-          - zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.isreg
-          - zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
-          - zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
-          - zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.mode == '0644'
+          - redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.exists
+          - redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.isreg
+          - redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
+          - redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
+          - redhat_zuul_merger_service_stat.stat.mode == '0644'
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
     - name: Register /etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service
       stat:
         path: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service
-      register: zuul_server_service_stat
+      register: redhat_zuul_server_service_stat
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
-    - name: Assert zuul_server_service_stat tests.
+    - name: Assert redhat_zuul_server_service_stat tests.
       assert:
         that:
-          - zuul_server_service_stat.stat.exists
-          - zuul_server_service_stat.stat.isreg
-          - zuul_server_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
-          - zuul_server_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
-          - zuul_server_service_stat.stat.mode == '0644'
+          - redhat_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.exists
+          - redhat_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.isreg
+          - redhat_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.pw_name == 'root'
+          - redhat_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.gr_name == 'root'
+          - redhat_zuul_server_service_stat.stat.mode == '0644'
+      when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
diff --git a/vars/Debian.yaml b/vars/Debian.yaml
index a869f7c..9af6f82 100644
--- a/vars/Debian.yaml
+++ b/vars/Debian.yaml
@@ -16,3 +16,11 @@ __zuul_build_depends:
   - git
   - python-dev
   - python-pip
+
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest: /etc/init.d/zuul-merger
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode: "0755"
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src: etc/init.d/zuul-merger
+
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest: /etc/init.d/zuul-server
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode: "0755"
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src: etc/init.d/zuul-server
diff --git a/vars/RedHat.yaml b/vars/RedHat.yaml
index c44b73b..31cc0ed 100644
--- a/vars/RedHat.yaml
+++ b/vars/RedHat.yaml
@@ -18,3 +18,11 @@ __zuul_build_depends:
   - git
   - python-devel
   - python-pip
+
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_dest: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_mode: "0644"
+__zuul_file_zuul_merger_service_src: etc/systemd/system/zuul-merger.service
+
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_dest: /etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_mode: "0644"
+__zuul_file_zuul_server_service_src: etc/systemd/system/zuul-server.service