diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f25ce30..5526591 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ This role manages local Linux users, groups, SSH access, SSH keys, and sudo perm
 
 The role is designed to be multi-distribution and does not rely on distro-specific groups such as `sudo` or `wheel`.
 
+The SSH service name is picked automatically (`ssh` on Debian-family distros, `sshd` elsewhere); set `users_sshd_service_name` if your distro uses a different name.
+
 ## Managed groups
 The role uses these groups:
 
diff --git a/users/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml b/users/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
index 4d24c02..5eeaccd 100644
--- a/users/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/users/roles/users/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,2 +1,7 @@
 ---
 # defaults file for users
+
+# Name of the SSH service unit. Debian-family distros call it "ssh",
+# most others (RedHat, Suse, Arch, ...) call it "sshd".
+# Override this if your distro uses a different name.
+users_sshd_service_name: "{{ 'ssh' if ansible_facts['os_family'] == 'Debian' else 'sshd' }}"
diff --git a/users/roles/users/handlers/main.yaml b/users/roles/users/handlers/main.yaml
index b689f6f..b0f617a 100644
--- a/users/roles/users/handlers/main.yaml
+++ b/users/roles/users/handlers/main.yaml
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 ---
 - name: Restart sshd
   ansible.builtin.service:
-    name: ssh
+    name: "{{ users_sshd_service_name }}"
     state: restarted
diff --git a/users/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml b/users/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
index 62ce863..0f45668 100644
--- a/users/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/users/roles/users/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 ---
 
+# The play runs with gather_facts: false, but the sshd handler needs
+# ansible_facts['os_family'] to pick the right service name.
+- name: Gather minimal facts if the play skipped fact gathering
+  ansible.builtin.setup:
+    gather_subset:
+      - "!all"
+  when: ansible_facts['os_family'] is not defined
+  tags:
+    - always
+
 - name: Manage sudoers
   ansible.builtin.import_tasks: sudoers.yaml
   tags: