diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/service.rb b/Library/Homebrew/service.rb
index 77d3b47862..4725a8acb0 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/service.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/service.rb
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ module Homebrew
     def initialize(formula, &block)
       @formula = formula
       @run_type = RUN_TYPE_IMMEDIATE
+      @run_at_load = true
       @environment_variables = {}
       @service_block = block
     end
@@ -159,6 +160,18 @@ module Homebrew
       @require_root.present? && @require_root == true
     end
 
+    sig { params(value: T.nilable(T::Boolean)).returns(T.nilable(T::Boolean)) }
+    def run_at_load(value = nil)
+      case T.unsafe(value)
+      when nil
+        @run_at_load
+      when true, false
+        @run_at_load = value
+      else
+        raise TypeError, "Service#run_at_load expects a Boolean"
+      end
+    end
+
     sig { params(value: T.nilable(String)).returns(T.nilable(T::Hash[Symbol, String])) }
     def sockets(value = nil)
       case T.unsafe(value)
@@ -371,7 +384,7 @@ module Homebrew
       base = {
         Label:            @formula.plist_name,
         ProgramArguments: command,
-        RunAtLoad:        @run_type == RUN_TYPE_IMMEDIATE,
+        RunAtLoad:        @run_at_load == true,
       }
 
       base[:LaunchOnlyOnce] = @launch_only_once if @launch_only_once == true
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/test/service_spec.rb b/Library/Homebrew/test/service_spec.rb
index 6b08b4f03b..5554aa2860 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/test/service_spec.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/test/service_spec.rb
@@ -346,6 +346,43 @@ describe Homebrew::Service do
       expect(plist).to eq(plist_expect)
     end
 
+    it "returns valid partial plist with run_at_load being false" do
+      f = stub_formula do
+        service do
+          run opt_bin/"beanstalkd"
+          run_type :immediate
+          run_at_load false
+        end
+      end
+
+      plist = f.service.to_plist
+      plist_expect = <<~EOS
+        <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+        <plist version="1.0">
+        <dict>
+        \t<key>Label</key>
+        \t<string>homebrew.mxcl.formula_name</string>
+        \t<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
+        \t<array>
+        \t\t<string>Aqua</string>
+        \t\t<string>Background</string>
+        \t\t<string>LoginWindow</string>
+        \t\t<string>StandardIO</string>
+        \t\t<string>System</string>
+        \t</array>
+        \t<key>ProgramArguments</key>
+        \t<array>
+        \t\t<string>#{HOMEBREW_PREFIX}/opt/formula_name/bin/beanstalkd</string>
+        \t</array>
+        \t<key>RunAtLoad</key>
+        \t<false/>
+        </dict>
+        </plist>
+      EOS
+      expect(plist).to eq(plist_expect)
+    end
+
     it "returns valid interval plist" do
       f = stub_formula do
         service do
@@ -376,7 +413,7 @@ describe Homebrew::Service do
         \t\t<string>#{HOMEBREW_PREFIX}/opt/formula_name/bin/beanstalkd</string>
         \t</array>
         \t<key>RunAtLoad</key>
-        \t<false/>
+        \t<true/>
         \t<key>StartInterval</key>
         \t<integer>5</integer>
         </dict>
@@ -415,7 +452,7 @@ describe Homebrew::Service do
         \t\t<string>#{HOMEBREW_PREFIX}/opt/formula_name/bin/beanstalkd</string>
         \t</array>
         \t<key>RunAtLoad</key>
-        \t<false/>
+        \t<true/>
         \t<key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
         \t<dict>
         \t\t<key>Hour</key>