diff --git a/manifests/cache.pp b/manifests/cache.pp
index 4cded1c..a546631 100644
--- a/manifests/cache.pp
+++ b/manifests/cache.pp
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@
 #   (Optional) Whether to install the backend package.
 #   Defaults to true.
 #
+# [*package_ensure*]
+#   (Optional) ensure state for package.
+#   Defaults to 'present'
+#
 define oslo::cache(
   $config_prefix                        = $::os_service_default,
   $expiration_time                      = $::os_service_default,
@@ -170,6 +174,7 @@ define oslo::cache(
   $tls_keyfile                          = $::os_service_default,
   $tls_allowed_ciphers                  = $::os_service_default,
   $manage_backend_package               = true,
+  $package_ensure                       = 'present',
 ){
 
   include oslo::params
@@ -187,14 +192,15 @@ define oslo::cache(
   if $manage_backend_package {
     if ($backend =~ /pylibmc/ ) {
       ensure_packages('python-pylibmc', {
-        ensure => present,
+        ensure => $package_ensure,
         name   => $::oslo::params::pylibmc_package_name,
         tag    => 'openstack',
       })
     } elsif ($backend =~ /\.memcache/ ) {
       ensure_packages('python-memcache', {
-        name => $::oslo::params::python_memcache_package_name,
-        tag  => ['openstack'],
+        ensure => $package_ensure,
+        name   => $::oslo::params::python_memcache_package_name,
+        tag    => ['openstack'],
       })
     }
   }
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/cache-package_ensure-a9d500c5681a664f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/cache-package_ensure-a9d500c5681a664f.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13c3726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/cache-package_ensure-a9d500c5681a664f.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    The new ``oslo::cache::package_ensure`` parameter has been added. This
+    parameter defines status of the backend package used.
diff --git a/spec/defines/oslo_cache_spec.rb b/spec/defines/oslo_cache_spec.rb
index 7690775..4704565 100644
--- a/spec/defines/oslo_cache_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/oslo_cache_spec.rb
@@ -91,6 +91,22 @@ describe 'oslo::cache' do
         )
       end
 
+      context 'with package_ensure set' do
+        before do
+          params.merge!({
+            :package_ensure => 'latest'
+          })
+        end
+
+        it 'ensures status of the package' do
+          is_expected.to contain_package('python-pylibmc').with(
+            :ensure => 'latest',
+            :name   => platform_params[:pylibmc_package_name],
+            :tag    => 'openstack',
+          )
+        end
+      end
+
       context 'with backend package management disabled' do
         before do
           params.merge!({
@@ -114,11 +130,28 @@ describe 'oslo::cache' do
       it 'configures cache backend' do
         is_expected.to contain_keystone_config('cache/backend').with_value('dogpile.cache.memcache')
         is_expected.to contain_package('python-memcache').with(
+          :ensure => 'present',
           :name   => platform_params[:python_memcache_package_name],
           :tag    => ['openstack'],
         )
       end
 
+      context 'with package_ensure set' do
+        before do
+          params.merge!({
+            :package_ensure => 'latest'
+          })
+        end
+
+        it 'ensures status of the package' do
+          is_expected.to contain_package('python-memcache').with(
+            :ensure => 'latest',
+            :name   => platform_params[:python_memcache_package_name],
+            :tag    => ['openstack'],
+          )
+        end
+      end
+
       context 'with backend package management disabled' do
         before do
           params.merge!({