diff --git a/tools/package/bin/onos-service b/tools/package/bin/onos-service
index d3717ac..467a04a 100755
--- a/tools/package/bin/onos-service
+++ b/tools/package/bin/onos-service
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # If ONOS_HOME is not set (e.g. in the init or service environment),
 # set it based on this script's path.
 ONOS_HOME=${ONOS_HOME:-$(cd $(dirname $0)/.. >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd)}
-KARAF_ARGS=
+KARAF_ARGS=server
 SYS_APPS=drivers
 ONOS_APPS=${ONOS_APPS:-}  # Empty means don't activate any new apps
 
@@ -52,4 +52,6 @@
     fi
 done
 
+KARAF_ARGS+=" server"
+
 exec ${ONOS_HOME}/apache-karaf-$KARAF_VERSION/bin/karaf $KARAF_ARGS