diff --git a/dovecot/init.sls b/dovecot/init.sls
index 6b223cb..eedf2c2 100644
--- a/dovecot/init.sls
+++ b/dovecot/init.sls
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ dovecot_packages:
 dovecot_service:
   service.running:
     - name: dovecot
+{% if dovecot.get('service_reload', True) %}
+    - reload: True
+{% endif %}
     - watch:
       - file: {{ dovecot.config.base }}/{{ dovecot.config.filename }}.conf
       - pkg: dovecot_packages
diff --git a/pillar.example b/pillar.example
index 0fde990..16e15e2 100644
--- a/pillar.example
+++ b/pillar.example
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ dovecot:
   lookup:
     enable_service_control: True
     service_persistent: True
+    service_reload: True
     config:
       local: |
         # main