diff --git a/manifests/resource/vhost.pp b/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
index 34af267f7..edfa8c9dd 100644
--- a/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
+++ b/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@
 #   [*owner*]                   - Defines owner of the .conf file
 #   [*group*]                   - Defines group of the .conf file
 #   [*mode*]                    - Defines mode of the .conf file
+#   [*maintenance*]             - A boolean value to set a vhost in maintenance
+#   [*maintenance_value*]       - Value to return when maintenance is on.
+#                                 Default to return 503
 # Actions:
 #
 # Requires:
@@ -235,6 +238,7 @@
   $group                        = $::nginx::config::global_group,
   $mode                         = $::nginx::config::global_mode,
   $maintenance                  = false,
+  $maintenance_value            = 'return 503'
 ) {
 
   validate_re($ensure, '^(present|absent)$',
diff --git a/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb b/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
index 3f577c5f9..3b280be05 100644
--- a/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
+++ b/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ server {
   set $maintenance "off";
 <% end -%>
   if ($maintenance = "on") {
-      return 503;
+      <%= @maintenance_value %>;
   }
 <% if @rewrite_to_https -%>
   if ($ssl_protocol = "") {
diff --git a/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb b/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
index a59317b9f..60b4d3b3f 100644
--- a/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
+++ b/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ server {
   set $maintenance "off";
 <% end -%>
   if ($maintenance = "on") {
-      return 503;
+      <%= @maintenance_value %>;
   }
 <% if Array(@resolver).count > 0 -%>
   resolver                  <% Array(@resolver).each do |r| %> <%= r %><% end %>;