diff --git a/manifests/os/debian.pp b/manifests/os/debian.pp
index a23351908c30b5a9a27d16c9b234073beb2ee537..c6a30dfab209a3734c453c1b248053d80b885a0f 100644
--- a/manifests/os/debian.pp
+++ b/manifests/os/debian.pp
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ class base::os::debian (
   # Ensure this file exists, containing only a comment.
   file { '/etc/default/locale':
     ensure  => present,
+    replace => false,
     content => "# Not used but required by PAM.\n",
   }