diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ee505b2..8d688a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -192,6 +192,16 @@ bind::zone { 'example.com':
 }
 ```
 
+A master zone for which the zone contents are managed by an external tool (this module just ensures the zone exists
+and is served). Use of `resource_records` for an unmanaged zone is not supported.
+
+```
+bind::zone { 'example.com':
+    zone_type       => 'master',
+    manage_contents => false,
+}
+```
+
 A slave zone which allows notifications from servers matched by IP:
 
 ```
diff --git a/manifests/zone.pp b/manifests/zone.pp
index dd51ecf..9b9121c 100644
--- a/manifests/zone.pp
+++ b/manifests/zone.pp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     $forwarders      = '',
     $forward         = '',
     $source          = '',
+    $manage_contents = true,
     $forwarders_port = 53,
 ) {
     # where there is a zone, there is a server
@@ -82,17 +83,20 @@
     }
 
     $zone_file_mode = $zone_type ? {
-        'master' => $dynamic ? {
-            true  => 'init',
-            false => 'managed',
+        'master'  => $manage_contents ? {
+            true  => $dynamic ? {
+                true  => 'init',
+                false => 'managed',
+            },
+            false => 'unmanaged',
         },
-        'slave'  => 'allowed',
-        'hint'   => 'managed',
-        'stub'   => 'allowed',
-        default  => 'absent',
+        'slave'   => 'allowed',
+        'hint'    => 'managed',
+        'stub'    => 'allowed',
+        default   => 'absent',
     }
 
-    if member(['init', 'managed', 'allowed'], $zone_file_mode) {
+    if member(['init', 'managed', 'unmanaged', 'allowed'], $zone_file_mode) {
         file { "${cachedir}/${name}":
             ensure  => directory,
             owner   => $bind_user,
@@ -101,6 +105,15 @@
             require => Package['bind'],
         }
 
+        if member(['unmanaged'], $zone_file_mode) {
+            file { "${cachedir}/${name}/${zone_file}":
+                ensure  => present,
+                owner   => $bind_user,
+                group   => $bind_group,
+                mode    => '0644';
+            }
+        }
+
         if member(['init', 'managed'], $zone_file_mode) {
             file { "${cachedir}/${name}/${zone_file}":
                 ensure  => present,
@@ -121,7 +134,7 @@
                 subscribe   => File["${cachedir}/${name}/${zone_file}"],
             }
         }
-    } elsif $zone_file_mode == 'absent' {
+    } elsif $zone_file_mode == 'absent' and $manage_contents {
         file { "${cachedir}/${name}":
             ensure => absent,
         }
diff --git a/templates/zone.conf.erb b/templates/zone.conf.erb
index 8a36dd7..6c3da2e 100644
--- a/templates/zone.conf.erb
+++ b/templates/zone.conf.erb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ zone "<%= @_domain %>" {
 	key-directory "<%= @cachedir %>/<%= @name %>";
 <%-   end -%>
 	file "<%= @cachedir %>/<%= @name %>/<%= @zone_file %>.signed";
-<%- elsif %w(init managed allowed).include? @zone_file_mode -%>
+<%- elsif %w(init managed unmanaged allowed).include? @zone_file_mode -%>
 	file "<%= @cachedir %>/<%= @name %>/<%= @zone_file %>";
 <%- end -%>
 <%- if %w(master slave).include? @zone_type