diff --git a/manifests/unit_file.pp b/manifests/unit_file.pp
index 56d120a5..808f4a4e 100644
--- a/manifests/unit_file.pp
+++ b/manifests/unit_file.pp
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@
   }
 
   if $_target {
-    $_ensure = 'link'
+    $_ensure = $ensure ? {
+      'absent' => 'absent',
+      default  => 'link',
+    }
   } else {
     $_ensure = $ensure ? {
       'present' => 'file',
diff --git a/spec/defines/unit_file_spec.rb b/spec/defines/unit_file_spec.rb
index f693584b..2a087601 100644
--- a/spec/defines/unit_file_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/unit_file_spec.rb
@@ -184,6 +184,20 @@
             expect(subject).not_to create_systemd__daemon_reload(title)
           }
         end
+
+        context 'with target => "/tmp/service-target" and ensure => absent' do
+          let(:params) do
+            { ensure: 'absent', target: '/tmp/service-target' }
+          end
+
+          it { is_expected.to compile.with_all_deps }
+
+          it do
+            expect(subject).to create_file("/etc/systemd/system/#{title}").
+              with_ensure('absent').
+              with_target('/tmp/service-target')
+          end
+        end
       end
     end
   end