diff --git a/src/Makefile.in b/src/Makefile.in
index 9c3121cee..bc8e8ef55 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/Makefile.in
@@ -21,11 +21,13 @@ ifeq ($(INSTALLUSER),)
   G_USER=
   CHOWN_COMMAND=echo
   CHOWN_OUTPUT=/dev/null
+  INIT_USER=root
 else
   O_USER=-o $(INSTALLUSER)
   G_USER=-g $(INSTALLUSER)
   CHOWN_COMMAND=chown
   CHOWN_OUTPUT=&1
+  INIT_USER=$(INSTALLUSER)
 endif
 
 EFLAGS += @ERLANG_SSL39@ -pa .
@@ -186,6 +188,11 @@ install: all
 	[ -d $(SBINDIR) ] || install -d -m 755 $(SBINDIR)
 	install -m 550 $(G_USER) ejabberdctl.example $(SBINDIR)/ejabberdctl
 	#
+	# Init script
+	sed -e "s*@ctlscriptpath@*$(SBINDIR)*" \
+		-e "s*@installuser@*$(INIT_USER)*" ejabberd.init.template \
+		> ejabberd.init
+	#
 	# Binary Erlang files
 	install -d $(BEAMDIR)
 	install -m 644 *.app $(BEAMDIR)
diff --git a/src/ejabberd.init.template b/src/ejabberd.init.template
index 948e5c4d0..6659557b6 100644
--- a/src/ejabberd.init.template
+++ b/src/ejabberd.init.template
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 set -o errexit
 set -o nounset
 
-DIR=@@INSTALLDIR@@
-CTL="$DIR"/bin/ejabberdctl
-USER=ejabberd
+DIR=@ctlscriptpath@
+CTL="$DIR"/ejabberdctl
+USER=@installuser@
 
-test -d "$DIR" || {
+test -x "$CTL" || {
 	echo "ERROR: ejabberd not found: $DIR"
 	exit 1
 }