diff --git a/lib/resources/service.rb b/lib/resources/service.rb
index 231fa9b55..5908dd332 100644
--- a/lib/resources/service.rb
+++ b/lib/resources/service.rb
@@ -135,8 +135,15 @@ module Inspec::Resources
         WindowsSrv.new(inspec)
       elsif %w{freebsd}.include?(family)
         BSDInit.new(inspec, service_ctl)
-      elsif %w{arch opensuse}.include?(family)
+      elsif %w{arch}.include?(family)
         Systemd.new(inspec, service_ctl)
+      elsif %w{suse opensuse}.include?(family)
+        version = inspec.os[:release].to_i
+        if (%w{ suse opensuse }.include?(family) && version >= 12)
+          Systemd.new(inspec, service_ctl)
+        else
+          SysV.new(inspec, service_ctl || '/sbin/service')
+        end
       elsif %w{aix}.include?(family)
         SrcMstr.new(inspec)
       elsif %w{amazon}.include?(family)