diff --git a/haproxy/defaults/main.yml b/haproxy/defaults/main.yml
index ed56ddbf..cfe3fcea 100644
--- a/haproxy/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/haproxy/defaults/main.yml
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 # backward compatibility with a previously used variable
 haproxy_backports: "{{ haproxy_jessie_backports | default(false, true) }}"
 haproxy_stats_url: "http://127.0.0.1:8080/"
+haproxy_update_config: True
 haproxy_force_config: True
diff --git a/haproxy/tasks/main.yml b/haproxy/tasks/main.yml
index c5ba8dda..80e846e6 100644
--- a/haproxy/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/haproxy/tasks/main.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
   - "templates/haproxy/haproxy.default.cfg.j2"
   - "haproxy.default.cfg.j2"
   notify: reload haproxy
+  when: "{{ haproxy_update_config }}"
   tags:
   - haproxy
   - config