diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index f9f5adc..07d2500 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ consul_template_archive_file: "{{ consul_template_release }}.zip"
 consul_template_download_url: "https://releases.hashicorp.com/consul-template/{{ consul_template_version }}/{{ consul_template_archive_file }}"
 consul_template_binary: consul-template
 consul_template_home: /opt/consul-template
+consul_template_use_config_dir: false
 consul_template_config_file_template: consul-template.cfg.j2
 consul_template_config_file: consul-template.cfg
 consul_template_log_file: /var/log/consul-template
diff --git a/templates/consul-template.cfg.j2 b/templates/consul-template.cfg.j2
index 7bdcca5..e830259 100644
--- a/templates/consul-template.cfg.j2
+++ b/templates/consul-template.cfg.j2
@@ -1,21 +1,16 @@
 consul = "{{ consul_template_consul_server }}:{{ consul_template_consul_port }}"
-
 {% if consul_template_log_level %}
 log_level = "{{consul_template_log_level}}"
 {% endif %}
-
+{% if not consul_template_config_dir %}
 {% if consul_template_templates %}
 {% for template in consul_template_templates %}
-
-
 template {
   source = "{{ consul_template_home }}/templates/{{ template.name }}"
   destination = "{{ template.dest }}"
   {% if template.cmd is defined %}command = "{{ template.cmd }}"{% endif %}
-  
   {% if template.perms is defined %}perms = {{ template.perms }}{% endif %}
-  
   {% if template.backup is defined %}backup = {{ template.backup|lower }}{% endif %}
-
 }{% endfor %}
 {% endif %}
+{% endif %}
diff --git a/templates/consul-template.service.systemd.j2 b/templates/consul-template.service.systemd.j2
index d831aed..4a73b8d 100644
--- a/templates/consul-template.service.systemd.j2
+++ b/templates/consul-template.service.systemd.j2
@@ -2,7 +2,11 @@
 Description=consul-template
 
 [Service]
+{% if consul_template_use_config_dir %}
+ExecStart=/bin/sh -c "{{ consul_template_home }}/bin/{{ consul_template_binary }}  -config={{ consul_template_home }}/config/ >> {{ consul_template_log_file }} 2>&1"
+{% else %}
 ExecStart=/bin/sh -c "{{ consul_template_home }}/bin/{{ consul_template_binary }}  -config={{ consul_template_home }}/config/{{ consul_template_config_file }} >> {{ consul_template_log_file }} 2>&1"
+{% endif %}
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/templates/consul-template.service.upstart.j2 b/templates/consul-template.service.upstart.j2
index 9e42de7..21ccf48 100644
--- a/templates/consul-template.service.upstart.j2
+++ b/templates/consul-template.service.upstart.j2
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ description "Consul Template"
 start on (local-filesystems and net-device-up IFACE!=lo)
 stop on runlevel [06]
 
+{% if consul_template_use_config_dir %}
+exec {{ consul_template_home }}/bin/{{ consul_template_binary }}  -config={{ consul_template_home }}/config >> {{ consul_template_log_file }} 2>&1
+{% else %}
 exec {{ consul_template_home }}/bin/{{ consul_template_binary }}  -config={{ consul_template_home }}/config/{{ consul_template_config_file }} >> {{ consul_template_log_file }} 2>&1
+{% endif %}
 
 respawn
 respawn limit 10 10