diff --git a/init/ubuntu b/init/ubuntu
index 01e1352c..376c001f 100644
--- a/init/ubuntu
+++ b/init/ubuntu
@@ -12,59 +12,56 @@
 # Description:       starts instance of CouchPotato using start-stop-daemon
 ### END INIT INFO
 
-############### EDIT ME ##################
-# path to app
-APP_PATH=/usr/local/sbin/CouchPotatoServer/
-
-# user
-RUN_AS=YOUR_USERNAME_HERE
-
-# path to python bin
-DAEMON=/usr/bin/python
-
-# Path to store PID file
-PID_FILE=/var/run/couchpotato.pid
-
-# script name
-NAME=couchpotato
-
-# app name
-DESC=CouchPotato
-
-# startup args
-DAEMON_OPTS=" CouchPotato.py --daemon --pid_file=${PID_FILE}"
-
-############### END EDIT ME ##################
-
 # Check for existance of defaults file
 # and utilze if available
-if [ -e "/etc/default/couchpotato" ]
-then
-    unset DAEMON_OPTS
+if [ -f /etc/default/couchpotato ]; then
     . /etc/default/couchpotato
+else
+    echo "/etc/default/couchpotato not found using default settings.";
 fi
 
-test -x $DAEMON || exit 0
+# Script name
+NAME=couchpotato
+
+# App name
+DESC=CouchPotato
+
+# Path to app root
+CP_APP_PATH=${APP_PATH-/usr/local/sbin/CouchPotatoServer/}
+
+# User to run CP as
+CP_RUN_AS=${RUN_AS-root}
+
+# Path to python bin
+CP_DAEMON=${DAEMON_PATH-/usr/bin/python}
+
+# Path to store PID file
+CP_PID_FILE=${PID_FILE-/var/run/couchpotato.pid}
+
+# Other startup args
+CP_DAEMON_OPTS=" CouchPotato.py --daemon --pid_file=${CP_PID_FILE}"
+
+test -x $CP_DAEMON || exit 0
 
 set -e
 
 case "$1" in
   start)
         echo "Starting $DESC"
-        rm -rf $PID_FILE || return 1
-        touch $PID_FILE
-        chown $RUN_AS $PID_FILE
-        start-stop-daemon -d $APP_PATH -c $RUN_AS --start --background --pidfile $PID_FILE --exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_OPTS
+        rm -rf $CP_PID_FILE || return 1
+        touch $CP_PID_FILE
+        chown $CP_RUN_AS $CP_PID_FILE
+        start-stop-daemon -d $CP_APP_PATH -c $CP_RUN_AS --start --background --pidfile $CP_PID_FILE --exec $CP_DAEMON -- $CP_DAEMON_OPTS
         ;;
   stop)
         echo "Stopping $DESC"
-        start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile $PID_FILE --retry 15
+        start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile $CP_PID_FILE --retry 15
         ;;
 
   restart|force-reload)
         echo "Restarting $DESC"
-        start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile $PID_FILE --retry 15
-        start-stop-daemon -d $APP_PATH -c $RUN_AS --start --background --pidfile $PID_FILE --exec $DAEMON -- $DAEMON_OPTS
+        start-stop-daemon --stop --pidfile $CP_PID_FILE --retry 15
+        start-stop-daemon -d $CP_APP_PATH -c $CP_RUN_AS --start --background --pidfile $CP_PID_FILE --exec $CP_DAEMON -- $CP_DAEMON_OPTS
         ;;
   *)
         N=/etc/init.d/$NAME
diff --git a/init/ubuntu.default b/init/ubuntu.default
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d1e7128
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init/ubuntu.default
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# COPY THIS FILE TO /etc/default/couchpotato
+# OPTIONS: APP_PATH, RUN_AS, DAEMON_PATH, CP_PID_FILE
+
+APP_PATH=
+RUN_AS=root
\ No newline at end of file