diff --git a/heka/server.sls b/heka/server.sls
index 6d365a3..30260e5 100644
--- a/heka/server.sls
+++ b/heka/server.sls
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 heka_user:
   user.present:
   - name: heka
+  - system: true
   - shell: /bin/nologin
   - groups: {{ server.groups }}
   - require: