diff --git a/Modulefile b/Modulefile
index 0f63d25..286cb6e 100644
--- a/Modulefile
+++ b/Modulefile
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ description 'Module to install and configure a Redis server'
 project_page 'https://github.com/fsalum/puppet-redis'
 
 ## Add dependencies, if any:
+
+# https://forge.puppetlabs.com/thias/sysctl
+dependency 'thias/sysctl', '0.3.0'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 83fe7bd..3fcd7d4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Redis Module for Puppet
 =======================
 [![Build Status](https://secure.travis-ci.org/fsalum/puppet-redis.png)](http://travis-ci.org/fsalum/puppet-redis)
 
-This module install and manages the Redis server. All redis.conf options are
+This module installs and manages a Redis server. All redis.conf options are
 accepted in the parameterized class.
 
 Operating System
@@ -27,7 +27,15 @@ To change the port and listening network interface:
 Parameters
 ----------
 
-Check the [init.pp](https://github.com/fsalum/puppet-redis/blob/master/manifests/init.pp) file for a list of parameters accepted.
+Check the [init.pp](https://github.com/fsalum/puppet-redis/blob/master/manifests/init.pp) file for a complete list of parameters accepted.
+
+To enable and set important Linux kernel sysctl parameters as described in the [Redis Admin Guide](http://redis.io/topics/admin) - use the following configuration option:
+
+    class { 'redis':
+      system_sysctl => true
+    }
+
+By default, this sysctl parameter will not be enabled. Furthermore, you will need the sysctl module defined in the [Modulefile](https://github.com/fsalum/puppet-redis/blob/master/Modulefile) file.
 
 Copyright and License
 ---------------------
diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 1adeec2..4185494 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -5,11 +5,9 @@
 # === Parameters
 #
 # All the redis.conf parameters can be passed to the class.
-# Check the README.md file
+# See below for a complete list of parameters accepted.
 #
-# === Variables
-#
-# Here you should define a list of variables that this module would require.
+# Check the README.md file for any further information about parameters for this class.
 #
 # === Examples
 #
@@ -30,6 +28,7 @@
   $package_ensure                   = 'present',
   $service_ensure                   = 'running',
   $service_enable                   = true,
+  $system_sysctl                    = false,
   $conf_daemonize                   = 'yes',
   $conf_pidfile                     = 'UNSET',
   $conf_port                        = '6379',
@@ -152,4 +151,10 @@
     require => Exec[$conf_dir],
   }
 
+  if ( $system_sysctl == true ) {
+    # add necessary kernel parameters
+    # see the redis admin guide here: http://redis.io/topics/admin
+    sysctl { 'vm.overcommit_memory': value => '1' }
+  }
+
 }