diff --git a/libmachine/provision/debian.go b/libmachine/provision/debian.go
index 061cd6830f..457f6d8765 100644
--- a/libmachine/provision/debian.go
+++ b/libmachine/provision/debian.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (provisioner *DebianProvisioner) Service(name string, action serviceaction.
 		return err
 	}
 
-	command := fmt.Sprintf("sudo systemctl %s %s", action.String(), name)
+	command := fmt.Sprintf("sudo systemctl -f %s %s", action.String(), name)
 
 	if _, err := provisioner.SSHCommand(command); err != nil {
 		return err