diff --git a/heka/server.sls b/heka/server.sls
index 8415e47..687e13b 100644
--- a/heka/server.sls
+++ b/heka/server.sls
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
   - name: heka
   - watch:
     - file: /etc/heka/conf.d/00-hekad.toml
+  - require:
+    - user: heka_user
 
 heka_user:
   user.present: