diff --git a/distribution/deb/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch b/distribution/deb/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
index 37bd0c3349e..82b1957b802 100755
--- a/distribution/deb/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/deb/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 #
 # /etc/init.d/elasticsearch -- startup script for Elasticsearch
 #
diff --git a/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch b/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
index 16c22141074..7bcb5692a88 100644
--- a/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/bin/sh
+#!/bin/bash
 #
 # elasticsearch <summary>
 #