diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 638d9649..11a80bc9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ The **patch** part changes incrementally at each release.
 ### Added
 * evomaintenance: database variables must be set or the task fails
 * redis: Configure munin when working in instance mode
+* redis: add a variable to disable the restart handler
+* redis: add a variable to force a restart (even with no change)
 
 ### Changed
 * redis: distinction between main and master password
diff --git a/redis/defaults/main.yml b/redis/defaults/main.yml
index 200d2ca2..8413e0d7 100644
--- a/redis/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/redis/defaults/main.yml
@@ -40,3 +40,6 @@ redis_protected_mode: "yes"
 
 # Add extra include files for local configuration/overrides.
 redis_includes: []
+
+redis_restart_if_needed: True
+redis_restart_force: False
diff --git a/redis/handlers/main.yml b/redis/handlers/main.yml
index ed452e65..c7f66ffb 100644
--- a/redis/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/redis/handlers/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
     name: "{{ redis_daemon }}"
     state: restarted
 
+- name: restart redis (noop)
+  meta: noop
+  failed_when: False
+  changed_when: False
+
 - name: restart munin-node
   service:
     name: munin-node
diff --git a/redis/tasks/main.yml b/redis/tasks/main.yml
index 65b065df..58f105d7 100644
--- a/redis/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/redis/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 ---
+
+- set_fact:
+    redis_restart_handler_name: "{{ redis_restart_if_needed | ternary('restart redis', 'restart redis (noop)') }}"
+
 - name: Redis is installed.
   apt:
     name: "{{ item }}"
@@ -32,7 +36,7 @@
     src: redis.conf.j2
     dest: "{{ redis_conf_path }}"
     mode: "0644"
-  notify: restart redis
+  notify: "{{ redis_restart_handler_name }}"
   when: redis_instance_name is not defined
   tags:
     - redis
@@ -86,3 +90,8 @@
   tags:
     - redis
     - nrpe
+
+- name: Force restart redis
+    command: /bin/true
+    notify: restart redis
+    when: redis_restart_force