Got a service which should be executed the moment an object is persisted. Though, I think the code looks like it should work, it doesn't. I configured the service like the following yml. services: bla_orm.listener: class: Bla\OrmBundle\EventListener\UserManager arguments: [@security.encoder_factory] tags: - { name: doctrine.event_listener, event: prePersist } The class: namespace Bla\OrmBundle\EventListener; use Doctrine\ORM\Event\LifecycleEventArgs; use Bla\OrmBundle\Entity\User; class UserManager { protected $encoderFactory; public function __construct(\Symfony\Component\Security\Core\Encoder\EncoderFactoryInterface $encoderFactory) { $this->encoderFactory = $encoderFactory; } public function prePersist(LifecycleEventArgs $args) { $entity = $args->getEntity(); if ($entity instanceof User) { $encoder = $this->encoderFactory ->getEncoder($entity); $entity->setSalt(rand(10000, 99999)); $password = $encoder->encodePassword($entity->getPassword(), $entity->getSalt()); $entity->setPassword($password); } } } Symfony version: Symfony version 2.3.3 - app/dev/debug Output of container:debug [container] Public services Service Id Scope Class Name annotation_reader container Doctrine\Common\Annotations\FileCacheReader assetic.asset_manager container Assetic\Factory\LazyAssetManager assetic.controller prototype Symfony\Bundle\AsseticBundle\Controller\AsseticController assetic.filter.cssrewrite container Assetic\Filter\CssRewriteFilter assetic.filter_manager container Symfony\Bundle\AsseticBundle\FilterManager assetic.request_listener container Symfony\Bundle\AsseticBundle\EventListener\RequestListener cache_clearer container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\CacheClearer\ChainCacheClearer cache_warmer container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\CacheWarmer\CacheWarmerAggregate data_collector.request container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\DataCollector\RequestDataCollector data_collector.router container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\DataCollector\RouterDataCollector database_connection n/a alias for doctrine.dbal.default_connection debug.controller_resolver container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Controller\TraceableControllerResolver debug.deprecation_logger_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ErrorsLoggerListener debug.emergency_logger_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ErrorsLoggerListener debug.event_dispatcher container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Debug\TraceableEventDispatcher debug.stopwatch container Symfony\Component\Stopwatch\Stopwatch debug.templating.engine.php container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\TimedPhpEngine debug.templating.engine.twig n/a alias for templating doctrine container Doctrine\Bundle\DoctrineBundle\Registry doctrine.dbal.connection_factory container Doctrine\Bundle\DoctrineBundle\ConnectionFactory doctrine.dbal.default_connection container stdClass doctrine.orm.default_entity_manager container Doctrine\ORM\EntityManager doctrine.orm.default_manager_configurator container Doctrine\Bundle\DoctrineBundle\ManagerConfigurator doctrine.orm.entity_manager n/a alias for doctrine.orm.default_entity_manager doctrine.orm.validator.unique container Symfony\Bridge\Doctrine\Validator\Constraints\UniqueEntityValidator doctrine.orm.validator_initializer container Symfony\Bridge\Doctrine\Validator\DoctrineInitializer event_dispatcher container Symfony\Component\EventDispatcher\ContainerAwareEventDispatcher file_locator container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Config\FileLocator filesystem container Symfony\Component\Filesystem\Filesystem form.csrf_provider container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Csrf\CsrfProvider\SessionCsrfProvider form.factory container Symfony\Component\Form\FormFactory form.registry container Symfony\Component\Form\FormRegistry form.resolved_type_factory container Symfony\Component\Form\ResolvedFormTypeFactory form.type.birthday container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\BirthdayType form.type.button container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\ButtonType form.type.checkbox container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\CheckboxType form.type.choice container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\ChoiceType form.type.collection container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\CollectionType form.type.country container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\CountryType form.type.currency container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\CurrencyType form.type.date container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\DateType form.type.datetime container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\DateTimeType form.type.email container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\EmailType form.type.entity container Symfony\Bridge\Doctrine\Form\Type\EntityType form.type.file container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\FileType form.type.form container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\FormType form.type.hidden container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\HiddenType form.type.integer container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\IntegerType form.type.language container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\LanguageType form.type.locale container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\LocaleType form.type.money container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\MoneyType form.type.number container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\NumberType form.type.password container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\PasswordType form.type.percent container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\PercentType form.type.radio container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\RadioType form.type.repeated container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\RepeatedType form.type.reset container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\ResetType form.type.search container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\SearchType form.type.submit container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\SubmitType form.type.text container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\TextType form.type.textarea container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\TextareaType form.type.time container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\TimeType form.type.timezone container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\TimezoneType form.type.url container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Core\Type\UrlType form.type_extension.csrf container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Csrf\Type\FormTypeCsrfExtension form.type_extension.form.http_foundation container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\HttpFoundation\Type\FormTypeHttpFoundationExtension form.type_extension.form.validator container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Validator\Type\FormTypeValidatorExtension form.type_extension.repeated.validator container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Validator\Type\RepeatedTypeValidatorExtension form.type_extension.submit.validator container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Validator\Type\SubmitTypeValidatorExtension form.type_guesser.doctrine container Symfony\Bridge\Doctrine\Form\DoctrineOrmTypeGuesser form.type_guesser.validator container Symfony\Component\Form\Extension\Validator\ValidatorTypeGuesser fragment.handler container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Fragment\FragmentHandler fragment.listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\FragmentListener fragment.renderer.hinclude container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Fragment\ContainerAwareHIncludeFragmentRenderer fragment.renderer.inline container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Fragment\InlineFragmentRenderer http_kernel container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\DependencyInjection\ContainerAwareHttpKernel kernel container locale_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\LocaleListener logger container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger mailer n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default monolog.handler.chromephp container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Handler\ChromePhpHandler monolog.handler.debug container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Handler\DebugHandler monolog.handler.firephp container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Handler\FirePHPHandler monolog.handler.main container Monolog\Handler\StreamHandler monolog.logger.deprecation container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.doctrine container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.emergency container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.event container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.profiler container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.request container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.router container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.security container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger monolog.logger.templating container Symfony\Bridge\Monolog\Logger profiler container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Profiler\Profiler profiler_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ProfilerListener property_accessor container Symfony\Component\PropertyAccess\PropertyAccessor request request response_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ResponseListener router container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Routing\Router router_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\RouterListener routing.loader container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Routing\DelegatingLoader security.context container Symfony\Component\Security\Core\SecurityContext security.encoder_factory container Symfony\Component\Security\Core\Encoder\EncoderFactory security.firewall container Symfony\Component\Security\Http\Firewall security.firewall.map.context.dev container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Security\FirewallContext security.firewall.map.context.login container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Security\FirewallContext security.firewall.map.context.rest container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Security\FirewallContext security.firewall.map.context.secured_area container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Security\FirewallContext security.rememberme.response_listener container Symfony\Component\Security\Http\RememberMe\ResponseListener security.secure_random container Symfony\Component\Security\Core\Util\SecureRandom security.validator.user_password container Symfony\Component\Security\Core\Validator\Constraints\UserPasswordValidator sensio.distribution.webconfigurator n/a alias for sensio_distribution.webconfigurator sensio_distribution.webconfigurator container Sensio\Bundle\DistributionBundle\Configurator\Configurator sensio_framework_extra.cache.listener container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\EventListener\CacheListener sensio_framework_extra.controller.listener container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\EventListener\ControllerListener sensio_framework_extra.converter.datetime container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Request\ParamConverter\DateTimeParamConverter sensio_framework_extra.converter.doctrine.orm container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Request\ParamConverter\DoctrineParamConverter sensio_framework_extra.converter.listener container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\EventListener\ParamConverterListener sensio_framework_extra.converter.manager container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Request\ParamConverter\ParamConverterManager sensio_framework_extra.view.guesser container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\Templating\TemplateGuesser sensio_framework_extra.view.listener container Sensio\Bundle\FrameworkExtraBundle\EventListener\TemplateListener service_container container session container Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Session session.handler container Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Storage\Handler\NativeFileSessionHandler session.storage n/a alias for session.storage.native session.storage.filesystem container Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Storage\MockFileSessionStorage session.storage.native container Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Storage\NativeSessionStorage session.storage.php_bridge container Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Session\Storage\PhpBridgeSessionStorage session_listener container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\EventListener\SessionListener streamed_response_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\StreamedResponseListener swiftmailer.email_sender.listener container Symfony\Bundle\SwiftmailerBundle\EventListener\EmailSenderListener swiftmailer.mailer n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default swiftmailer.mailer.default container Swift_Mailer swiftmailer.mailer.default.plugin.messagelogger container Swift_Plugins_MessageLogger swiftmailer.mailer.default.spool container Swift_FileSpool swiftmailer.mailer.default.transport container Swift_Transport_SpoolTransport swiftmailer.mailer.default.transport.real container Swift_Transport_EsmtpTransport swiftmailer.plugin.messagelogger n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default.plugin.messagelogger swiftmailer.spool n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default.spool swiftmailer.transport n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default.transport swiftmailer.transport.real n/a alias for swiftmailer.mailer.default.transport.real templating container Symfony\Bundle\TwigBundle\Debug\TimedTwigEngine templating.asset.package_factory container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Asset\PackageFactory templating.filename_parser container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\TemplateFilenameParser templating.globals container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\GlobalVariables templating.helper.actions container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\ActionsHelper templating.helper.assets request Symfony\Component\Templating\Helper\CoreAssetsHelper templating.helper.code container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\CodeHelper templating.helper.form container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\FormHelper templating.helper.logout_url container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Templating\Helper\LogoutUrlHelper templating.helper.request container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\RequestHelper templating.helper.router container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\RouterHelper templating.helper.security container Symfony\Bundle\SecurityBundle\Templating\Helper\SecurityHelper templating.helper.session container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\SessionHelper templating.helper.slots container Symfony\Component\Templating\Helper\SlotsHelper templating.helper.translator container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Helper\TranslatorHelper templating.loader container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\Loader\FilesystemLoader templating.name_parser container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Templating\TemplateNameParser translation.dumper.csv container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\CsvFileDumper translation.dumper.ini container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\IniFileDumper translation.dumper.mo container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\MoFileDumper translation.dumper.php container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\PhpFileDumper translation.dumper.po container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\PoFileDumper translation.dumper.qt container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\QtFileDumper translation.dumper.res container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\IcuResFileDumper translation.dumper.xliff container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\XliffFileDumper translation.dumper.yml container Symfony\Component\Translation\Dumper\YamlFileDumper translation.extractor container Symfony\Component\Translation\Extractor\ChainExtractor translation.extractor.php container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Translation\PhpExtractor translation.loader container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Translation\TranslationLoader translation.loader.csv container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\CsvFileLoader translation.loader.dat container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\IcuResFileLoader translation.loader.ini container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\IniFileLoader translation.loader.mo container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\MoFileLoader translation.loader.php container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\PhpFileLoader translation.loader.po container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\PoFileLoader translation.loader.qt container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\QtFileLoader translation.loader.res container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\IcuResFileLoader translation.loader.xliff container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\XliffFileLoader translation.loader.yml container Symfony\Component\Translation\Loader\YamlFileLoader translation.writer container Symfony\Component\Translation\Writer\TranslationWriter translator n/a alias for translator.default translator.default container Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Translation\Translator twig container Twig_Environment twig.controller.exception container Symfony\Bundle\TwigBundle\Controller\ExceptionController twig.exception_listener container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\EventListener\ExceptionListener twig.loader container Symfony\Bundle\TwigBundle\Loader\FilesystemLoader twig.translation.extractor container Symfony\Bridge\Twig\Translation\TwigExtractor uri_signer container Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\UriSigner bla_orm.listener container Bla\OrmBundle\EventListener\UserManager validator container Symfony\Component\Validator\Validator web_profiler.controller.exception container Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\Controller\ExceptionController web_profiler.controller.profiler container Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\Controller\ProfilerController web_profiler.controller.router container Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\Controller\RouterController web_profiler.debug_toolbar container Symfony\Bundle\WebProfilerBundle\EventListener\WebDebugToolbarListener Update It seems that the listener is not invoked when an updateAction, generated by generate:doctrine:crud has taken place though. At another part of the code the lister seems to be invoked. Though, there are both Controller types and both us $em->persist($something); $em->flush(); to save the changes. I would expect that in both cases the listener is invoked.