diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 06fa6c0..2af686b 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # directly from its git repositories.
 #
 class refstack (
+  $mysql_host          = 'localhost',
   $mysql_database      = 'refstack',
   $mysql_user          = 'refstack',
   $mysql_user_password,
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ class refstack (
   # Configure the entire refstack instance. This does not install anything,
   # but ensures that variables are consistent across all modules.
   class { '::refstack::params':
+    mysql_host          => $mysql_host,
     mysql_database      => $mysql_database,
     mysql_user          => $mysql_user,
     mysql_user_password => $mysql_user_password,
diff --git a/manifests/mysql.pp b/manifests/mysql.pp
index a86bd15..8c5156a 100644
--- a/manifests/mysql.pp
+++ b/manifests/mysql.pp
@@ -15,25 +15,28 @@
 # == Class: refstack::mysql
 #
 # The RefStack MySQL manifest will install a standalone, localhost instance
-# of mysql for refstack to connect to.
+# of mysql if mysql_host is set to 'localhost'.
 #
 class refstack::mysql () {
 
   require ::refstack::params
 
   # Import parameters.
+  $mysql_host          = $refstack::params::mysql_host
   $mysql_database      = $refstack::params::mysql_database
   $mysql_user          = $refstack::params::mysql_user
   $mysql_user_password = $refstack::params::mysql_user_password
 
   # Install MySQL
-  include ::mysql::server
+  if $mysql_host == 'localhost' {
+    include ::mysql::server
 
-  # Add the refstack database.
-  mysql::db { $mysql_database:
-    user     => $mysql_user,
-    password => $mysql_user_password,
-    host     => 'localhost',
-    grant    => ['all'],
+    # Add the refstack database.
+    mysql::db { $mysql_database:
+      user     => $mysql_user,
+      password => $mysql_user_password,
+      host     => $mysql_host,
+      grant    => ['all'],
+    }
   }
 }