diff --git a/manifests/tunnel.pp b/manifests/tunnel.pp
index 2e2fb26..87c6e08 100644
--- a/manifests/tunnel.pp
+++ b/manifests/tunnel.pp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # A define to add an autossh tunnel
 define autossh::tunnel (
   $ensure              = running,
+  $user,
   $ssh_port            = '22',
   $ssh_host,
   $ssh_user,
diff --git a/templates/autossh-command.erb b/templates/autossh-command.erb
index 2c8f161..73eda26 100644
--- a/templates/autossh-command.erb
+++ b/templates/autossh-command.erb
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
+<% if @user == 'root' %>
 /usr/lib/autossh/autossh -M 0 -N -f -o "ServerAliveInterval 60" -o "ServerAliveCountMax 3" -o "StrictHostKeyChecking no" <% if @local_forward_args %> -L <%= @local_forward_args %> <% end %> <% if @remote_forward_args %> -R <%= @remote_forward_args %> <% end %> -i <%= @ssh_key %> <%= @ssh_user %>@<%= @ssh_host %> -p <%= @ssh_port %>
+<% else %>
+su <%= @user %> -c '/usr/lib/autossh/autossh -M 0 -N -f -o "ServerAliveInterval 60" -o "ServerAliveCountMax 3" -o "StrictHostKeyChecking no" <% if @local_forward_args %> -L <%= @local_forward_args %> <% end %> <% if @remote_forward_args %> -R <%= @remote_forward_args %> <% end %> -i <%= @ssh_key %> <%= @ssh_user %>@<%= @ssh_host %> -p <%= @ssh_port %>'
+<% end %>