diff --git a/manifests/resource/vhost.pp b/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
index 15f167f41..e78448444 100644
--- a/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
+++ b/manifests/resource/vhost.pp
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
   $error_log              = undef,
   $passenger_cgi_param    = undef,
   $use_default_location   = true,
+  $sendfile               = 'off',
 ) {
 
   validate_array($location_allow)
diff --git a/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb b/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
index ae0217dba..9dcb7b790 100644
--- a/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
+++ b/templates/vhost/vhost_header.erb
@@ -34,4 +34,5 @@ server {
 
   access_log            <%= @access_log_real %>;
   error_log             <%= @error_log_real %>;
+  sendfile              <%= @sendfile %>;
 
diff --git a/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb b/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
index 2de8b1e4c..f3b55f877 100644
--- a/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
+++ b/templates/vhost/vhost_ssl_header.erb
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ server {
 
   access_log            <%= @ssl_access_log %>;
   error_log             <%= @ssl_error_log %>;
+  sendfile              <%= @sendfile %>;
 
 <% if @root -%>
   root <%= @root %>;