diff --git a/src/packaging/common/env/elasticsearch b/src/packaging/common/env/elasticsearch
index 8b6d88ac4ae..9b3138bdd71 100644
--- a/src/packaging/common/env/elasticsearch
+++ b/src/packaging/common/env/elasticsearch
@@ -3,28 +3,25 @@
 ################################
 
 # Elasticsearch home directory
-ES_HOME=${packaging.elasticsearch.home.dir}
+#ES_HOME=${packaging.elasticsearch.home.dir}
 
 # Elasticsearch configuration directory
-CONF_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}
+#CONF_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}
 
 # Elasticsearch configuration file
-CONF_FILE=$CONF_DIR/elasticsearch.yml
+#CONF_FILE=$CONF_DIR/elasticsearch.yml
 
 # Elasticsearch data directory
-DATA_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}
+#DATA_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}
 
 # Elasticsearch logs directory
-LOG_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}
+#LOG_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}
 
 # Elasticsearch work directory
-WORK_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}
-
-# Elasticsearch plugins directory
-PLUGINS_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.plugins.dir}
+#WORK_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}
 
 # Elasticsearch PID directory
-PID_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.pid.dir}
+#PID_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.pid.dir}
 
 # Heap size defaults to ${packaging.elasticsearch.heap.min} min, ${packaging.elasticsearch.heap.max} max
 # Set ES_HEAP_SIZE to 50% of available RAM, but no more than 31g
@@ -56,8 +53,8 @@ PID_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.pid.dir}
 # Note that this setting is only used by the init script. If changed, make sure that
 # the configured user can read and write into the data, work, plugins and log directories.
 # For systemd service, the user is usually configured in file ${packaging.elasticsearch.systemd.dir}/elasticsearch.service
-ES_USER=${packaging.elasticsearch.user}
-ES_GROUP=${packaging.elasticsearch.group}
+#ES_USER=${packaging.elasticsearch.user}
+#ES_GROUP=${packaging.elasticsearch.group}
 
 ################################
 # System properties
@@ -66,7 +63,7 @@ ES_GROUP=${packaging.elasticsearch.group}
 # Specifies the maximum file descriptor number that can be opened by this process
 # When using Systemd, this setting is ignored and the LimitNOFILE defined in
 # ${packaging.elasticsearch.systemd.dir}/elasticsearch.service takes precedence
-MAX_OPEN_FILES=${packaging.os.max.open.files}
+#MAX_OPEN_FILES=${packaging.os.max.open.files}
 
 # The maximum number of bytes of memory that may be locked into RAM
 # Set to "unlimited" if you use the 'bootstrap.mlockall: true' option
@@ -78,4 +75,4 @@ MAX_OPEN_FILES=${packaging.os.max.open.files}
 # Maximum number of VMA (Virtual Memory Areas) a process can own
 # When using Systemd, this setting is ignored and the 'vm.max_map_count'
 # property is set at boot time in ${packaging.elasticsearch.systemd.sysctl.dir}/elasticsearch.conf
-MAX_MAP_COUNT=${packaging.os.max.map.count}
+#MAX_MAP_COUNT=${packaging.os.max.map.count}
diff --git a/src/packaging/common/scripts/postinst b/src/packaging/common/scripts/postinst
index 93432c3dc34..3d47a0338d4 100644
--- a/src/packaging/common/scripts/postinst
+++ b/src/packaging/common/scripts/postinst
@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@ ${packaging.scripts.header}
 
 
 
+# Sets the default values for elasticsearch variables used in this script
+ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
+ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+
 # Source the default env file
 ES_ENV_FILE="${packaging.env.file}"
 if [ -f "$ES_ENV_FILE" ]; then
     . "$ES_ENV_FILE"
-else
-    echo "Unable to source environment file $ES_ENV_FILE" >&2
 fi
 
 IS_UPGRADE=false
@@ -51,10 +53,6 @@ case "$1" in
     ;;
 esac
 
-# Use default user and group
-[ -z "$ES_USER" ] && ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
-[ -z "$ES_GROUP" ] && ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
-
 if [ "x$IS_UPGRADE" != "xtrue" ]; then
     if command -v systemctl >/dev/null; then
         echo "### NOT starting on installation, please execute the following statements to configure elasticsearch service to start automatically using systemd"
diff --git a/src/packaging/common/scripts/postrm b/src/packaging/common/scripts/postrm
index 8e4823380c8..acff96cf8a2 100644
--- a/src/packaging/common/scripts/postrm
+++ b/src/packaging/common/scripts/postrm
@@ -50,13 +50,20 @@ case "$1" in
     ;;
 esac
 
+# Sets the default values for elasticsearch variables used in this script
+ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
+ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+LOG_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}"
+WORK_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}"
+PLUGINS_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.plugins.dir}"
+PID_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.pid.dir}"
+DATA_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}"
+
 # Source the default env file
 if [ "$SOURCE_ENV_FILE" = "true" ]; then
     ES_ENV_FILE="${packaging.env.file}"
     if [ -f "$ES_ENV_FILE" ]; then
         . "$ES_ENV_FILE"
-    else
-        echo "Unable to source environment file $ES_ENV_FILE" >&2
     fi
 fi
 
@@ -76,40 +83,30 @@ fi
 
 if [ "$REMOVE_DIRS" = "true" ]; then
 
-    [ -z "$LOG_DIR" ] && LOG_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}"
-
     if [ -d "$LOG_DIR" ]; then
         echo -n "Deleting log directory..."
         rm -rf "$LOG_DIR"
         echo " OK"
     fi
 
-    [ -z "$WORK_DIR" ] && WORK_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}"
-
     if [ -d "$WORK_DIR" ]; then
         echo -n "Deleting work directory..."
         rm -rf "$WORK_DIR"
         echo " OK"
     fi
 
-    [ -z "$PLUGINS_DIR" ] && PLUGINS_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.plugins.dir}"
-
     if [ -d "$PLUGINS_DIR" ]; then
         echo -n "Deleting plugins directory..."
         rm -rf "$PLUGINS_DIR"
         echo " OK"
     fi
 
-    [ -z "$PID_DIR" ] && PID_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.pid.dir}"
-
     if [ -d "$PID_DIR" ]; then
         echo -n "Deleting PID directory..."
         rm -rf "$PID_DIR"
         echo " OK"
     fi
 
-    [ -z "$DATA_DIR" ] && DATA_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}"
-
     # Delete the data directory if and only if empty
     if [ -d "$DATA_DIR" ]; then
         rmdir --ignore-fail-on-non-empty "$DATA_DIR"
@@ -117,12 +114,12 @@ if [ "$REMOVE_DIRS" = "true" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ "$REMOVE_USER_AND_GROUP" = "true" ]; then
-    if id $ES_USER > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-        userdel "${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
+    if id "$ES_USER" > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+        userdel "$ES_USER"
     fi
 
     if getent group "$ES_GROUP" > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
-        groupdel "${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+        groupdel "$ES_GROUP"
     fi
 fi
 
diff --git a/src/packaging/common/scripts/preinst b/src/packaging/common/scripts/preinst
index f9ad39a11ff..d3df84ecd02 100644
--- a/src/packaging/common/scripts/preinst
+++ b/src/packaging/common/scripts/preinst
@@ -13,9 +13,15 @@ ${packaging.scripts.header}
 
 
 
-# Define default user and group
-[ -z "$ES_USER" ] && ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
-[ -z "$ES_GROUP" ] && ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+# Sets the default values for elasticsearch variables used in this script
+ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
+ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+
+# Source the default env file
+ES_ENV_FILE="${packaging.env.file}"
+if [ -f "$ES_ENV_FILE" ]; then
+    . "$ES_ENV_FILE"
+fi
 
 case "$1" in
 
diff --git a/src/packaging/common/scripts/prerm b/src/packaging/common/scripts/prerm
index 046cf3c7b73..e8da0069067 100644
--- a/src/packaging/common/scripts/prerm
+++ b/src/packaging/common/scripts/prerm
@@ -13,14 +13,6 @@ ${packaging.scripts.header}
 
 
 
-# Source the default env file
-ES_ENV_FILE="${packaging.env.file}"
-if [ -f "$ES_ENV_FILE" ]; then
-    . "$ES_ENV_FILE"
-else
-    echo "Unable to source environment file $ES_ENV_FILE" >&2
-fi
-
 STOP_REQUIRED=false
 
 case "$1" in
diff --git a/src/packaging/deb/systemd/elasticsearch.service b/src/packaging/deb/systemd/elasticsearch.service
index 3eeb1f1019f..3a529989244 100644
--- a/src/packaging/deb/systemd/elasticsearch.service
+++ b/src/packaging/deb/systemd/elasticsearch.service
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@ Wants=network-online.target
 After=network-online.target
 
 [Service]
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/elasticsearch
+Environment=CONF_FILE=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}/elasticsearch.yml
+Environment=ES_HOME=${packaging.elasticsearch.home.dir}
+Environment=LOG_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}
+Environment=DATA_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}
+Environment=WORK_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}
+Environment=CONF_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}
+EnvironmentFile=-${packaging.env.file}
 User=elasticsearch
 Group=elasticsearch
 ExecStart=/usr/share/elasticsearch/bin/elasticsearch            \
diff --git a/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch b/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
index 330f02273a3..c90ec5a1ba3 100644
--- a/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/src/packaging/rpm/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -31,12 +31,28 @@ if [ -f /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions ]; then
     . /etc/rc.d/init.d/functions
 fi
 
-exec="/usr/share/elasticsearch/bin/elasticsearch"
+# Sets the default values for elasticsearch variables used in this script
+ES_USER="${packaging.elasticsearch.user}"
+ES_GROUP="${packaging.elasticsearch.group}"
+ES_HOME="${packaging.elasticsearch.home.dir}"
+MAX_OPEN_FILES=${packaging.os.max.open.files}
+MAX_MAP_COUNT=${packaging.os.max.map.count}
+LOG_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}"
+DATA_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}"
+WORK_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}"
+CONF_DIR="${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}"
+CONF_FILE="${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}/elasticsearch.yml"
+
+# Source the default env file
+ES_ENV_FILE="${packaging.env.file}"
+if [ -f "$ES_ENV_FILE" ]; then
+    . "$ES_ENV_FILE"
+fi
+
+exec="$ES_HOME/bin/elasticsearch"
 prog="elasticsearch"
 pidfile=/var/run/elasticsearch/${prog}.pid
 
-[ -e /etc/sysconfig/$prog ] && . /etc/sysconfig/$prog
-
 export ES_HEAP_SIZE
 export ES_HEAP_NEWSIZE
 export ES_DIRECT_SIZE
diff --git a/src/packaging/rpm/systemd/elasticsearch.service b/src/packaging/rpm/systemd/elasticsearch.service
index 5642018c813..3d2226313bf 100644
--- a/src/packaging/rpm/systemd/elasticsearch.service
+++ b/src/packaging/rpm/systemd/elasticsearch.service
@@ -4,7 +4,13 @@ Documentation=http://www.elasticsearch.org
 
 [Service]
 Type=forking
-EnvironmentFile=/etc/sysconfig/elasticsearch
+Environment=CONF_FILE=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}/elasticsearch.yml
+Environment=ES_HOME=${packaging.elasticsearch.home.dir}
+Environment=LOG_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.log.dir}
+Environment=DATA_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.data.dir}
+Environment=WORK_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.work.dir}
+Environment=CONF_DIR=${packaging.elasticsearch.conf.dir}
+EnvironmentFile=-${packaging.env.file}
 User=elasticsearch
 Group=elasticsearch
 PIDFile=/var/run/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.pid