diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 38ee35c..056388e 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ repos:
         pass_filenames: false
 
   - repo: https://github.com/robertdebock/pre-commit
-    rev: v1.1.1
+    rev: v1.1.2
     hooks:
       - id: ansible_role_find_unused_variable
       - id: ansible_role_find_empty_files
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 24fd4fa..05810a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ tomcat_ssl_connector_port: 8443
 tomcat_shutdown_port: 8005
 tomcat_ajp_port: 8009
 tomcat_jre_home: /usr
+tomcat_service_state: started
+tomcat_service_enabled: yes
 # You can bind Tomcat to a specified address globally using this variable, or
 # in the `tomcat_instances`. The `tomcat_instances.address` is more specific
 # so it takes priority over `tomcat_address`.
@@ -170,6 +172,8 @@ tomcat_instances:
     access_log_prefix: "{{ tomcat_access_log_prefix }}"
     access_log_suffix: "{{ tomcat_access_log_suffix }}"
     access_log_pattern: "{{ tomcat_access_log_pattern }}"
+    service_state: "{{ tomcat_service_state }}"
+    service_enabled: "{{ tomcat_service_enabled }}"
 
 # The explicit version to use when referring to the short name.
 tomcat_version7: 7.0.107
@@ -292,6 +296,7 @@ Apache-2.0
 I'd like to thank everybody that made contributions to this repository. It motivates me, improves the code and is just fun to collaborate.
 
 - [brunoleon](https://github.com/brunoleon)
+- [gaima8](https://github.com/gaima8)
 - [javid90khan](https://github.com/javid90khan)
 - [patsevanton](https://github.com/patsevanton)
 - [till](https://github.com/till)
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 14b6a55..b74b4b6 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ tomcat_ssl_connector_port: 8443
 tomcat_shutdown_port: 8005
 tomcat_ajp_port: 8009
 tomcat_jre_home: /usr
+tomcat_service_state: started
+tomcat_service_enabled: yes
 # You can bind Tomcat to a specified address globally using this variable, or
 # in the `tomcat_instances`. The `tomcat_instances.address` is more specific
 # so it takes priority over `tomcat_address`.
@@ -54,8 +56,8 @@ tomcat_instances:
     access_log_prefix: "{{ tomcat_access_log_prefix }}"
     access_log_suffix: "{{ tomcat_access_log_suffix }}"
     access_log_pattern: "{{ tomcat_access_log_pattern }}"
-    service_state: started
-    service_enabled: yes
+    service_state: "{{ tomcat_service_state }}"
+    service_enabled: "{{ tomcat_service_enabled }}"
 
 # The explicit version to use when referring to the short name.
 tomcat_version7: 7.0.107
diff --git a/tasks/assert.yml b/tasks/assert.yml
index 36838e1..d07fff2 100644
--- a/tasks/assert.yml
+++ b/tasks/assert.yml
@@ -132,6 +132,20 @@
       - tomcat_jre_home is string
     quiet: yes
 
+- name: test if tomcat_service_state is set correctly
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - tomcat_service_state is defined
+      - tomcat_service_state in [ "reloaded", "restarted", "started", "stopped" ]
+    quiet: yes
+
+- name: test if tomcat_service_enabled is set correctly
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - tomcat_service_enabled is defined
+      - tomcat_service_enabled is boolean
+    quiet: yes
+
 - name: test if tomcat_instances is set correctly
   assert:
     that:
@@ -341,3 +355,25 @@
     label: "{{ item.name }}"
   when:
     - item.config_files is defined
+
+- name: test if item.service_state in tomcat_instances is set correctly
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item service_state in [ "reloaded", "restarted", "started", "stopped" ]
+    quiet: yes
+  loop: "{{ tomcat_instances }}"
+  loop_control:
+    label: "{{ item.name }}"
+  when:
+    - item.service_state is defined
+
+- name: test if item.service_enabled in tomcat_instances is set correctly
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - item service_enabled is boolean
+    quiet: yes
+  loop: "{{ tomcat_instances }}"
+  loop_control:
+    label: "{{ item.name }}"
+  when:
+    - item.service_enabled is defined
diff --git a/tasks/instance.yml b/tasks/instance.yml
index f50e965..7a4b899 100644
--- a/tasks/instance.yml
+++ b/tasks/instance.yml
@@ -87,11 +87,11 @@
         user_name: "{{ instance.user | default(tomcat_user) }}"
         group_name: "{{ instance.group | default(tomcat_group) }}"
 
-- name: set tomcat instance service to {{ instance.service_state | default('started') }} and {{ instance.service_enabled | default('yes') }}
+- name: manage tomcat service
   service:
     name: "{{ instance.name }}"
-    state: "{{ instance.service_state | default('started') }}"
-    enabled: "{{ instance.service_enabled | default('yes') }}"
+    state: "{{ instance.service_state | default(tomcat_service_state) }}"
+    enabled: "{{ instance.service_enabled | default(tomcat_service_enabled) }}"
 
 - name: loop over wars
   include: war.yml