diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d9d5976..c899261 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ install_docker_edition: ce # by default, set to ce
 ```
 This variable sets the edition of docker to install. It can be either `ce` (community edition) or `ee` (enterprise edition).
 
+```yaml
+install_docker_auto_update: false # by default, set to false
+```
+This variable allows you to choose to automatically update docker if a newer version is available whenever the role is replayed. Updating docker is usually pretty safe if done on a regular basis.
+
 ```yaml
 install_docker_start_service: true
 ```
diff --git a/defaults/install_docker.yml.sample b/defaults/install_docker.yml.sample
index b6bed11..4fe7522 100644
--- a/defaults/install_docker.yml.sample
+++ b/defaults/install_docker.yml.sample
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 # install_docker_edition: ce # can be ce or ee (community or enterprise)
+# install_docker_auto_update: false
 # install_docker_start_service: true
 # install_docker_compose: false
 # install_docker_compose_version: latest
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 076dc75..8112f0d 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
 # defaults file for install_docker
 install_docker_edition: ce # can be ce or ee (community or enterprise)
+install_docker_auto_update: false
 install_docker_start_service: true
 install_docker_compose: false
 install_docker_compose_version: latest
diff --git a/molecule/with_custom_config/group_vars/all.yml b/molecule/with_custom_config/group_vars/all.yml
index 76944b0..9996b9c 100644
--- a/molecule/with_custom_config/group_vars/all.yml
+++ b/molecule/with_custom_config/group_vars/all.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 install_docker_edition: ce # can be ce or ee (community or enterprise)
+install_docker_auto_update: true
 install_docker_start_service: true
 install_docker_compose: true
 install_docker_compose_version: latest
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index f75f792..400d86e 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -12,20 +12,20 @@ install_docker_daemon_dir: /etc/docker
 install_docker_packages:
   - name: "docker-{{ install_docker_edition }}"
     version: latest
-    state: present
+    state: "{% if install_docker_auto_update %}latest{% else %}present{% endif %}"
   - name: "docker-{{ install_docker_edition }}-cli"
     version: latest
-    state: present
+    state: "{% if install_docker_auto_update %}latest{% else %}present{% endif %}"
   - name: "docker-{{ install_docker_edition }}-rootless-extras"
     version: latest
-    state: present
+    state: "{% if install_docker_auto_update %}latest{% else %}present{% endif %}"
   - name: "containerd.io"
     version: latest
-    state: present
+    state: "{% if install_docker_auto_update %}latest{% else %}present{% endif %}"
 install_docker_pip_packages:
   - name: docker
     version_constraint: latest
-    state: present
+    state: "{% if install_docker_auto_update %}latest{% else %}present{% endif %}"
 install_docker_repository:
   - uri: "https://download.docker.com/linux/{{ ansible_distribution|lower }}"
     gpg_key: "https://download.docker.com/linux/{{ ansible_distribution|lower }}/gpg"