diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 2ffe7d8..8608601 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
   ntp_conf_revision : "20200429-232122"
 
 
+  ntp_service: ntpd
+
+
   ntp_node_type : server
 
 
diff --git a/handlers/main.yml b/handlers/main.yml
index 20ba3a1..b2c5ce4 100644
--- a/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/handlers/main.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
   # handlers file for zen_ntp
   - name: restart ntpd
     service:
-      name : ntpd
+      name : "{{ ntp_service }}"
       state: restarted
     when: ansible_virtualization_type != "docker"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 791b79e..936268b 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 ---
 # tasks file for zen_ntp
+- name: set service name for debian if required
+  set_fact:
+    ntp_service: ntp
+  when: ansible_distribution == "Debian"
+
 
 - name: install ntp if not present
   package:
@@ -19,7 +24,7 @@
 
 - name: enable/start ntpd
   service:
-    name: ntpd
+    name: "{{ ntp_service }}"
     enabled: yes
     state: started
-  when: ansible_distribution_major_version == "7" and ansible_virtualization_type != "docker"
+  when: ansible_virtualization_type != "docker"