diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index edb3336..61e36b8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ $ git clone https://github.com/borgbase/ansible-role-borgbackup.git roles/ansibl
 - `borg_encryption_passphrase`: Password to use for repokey or keyfile. Empty if repo is unencrypted.
 - `borg_exclude_from`: Read exclude patterns from one or more separate named files, one pattern per line.
 - `borg_exclude_patterns`: Paths or patterns to exclude from backup. See [official documentation](https://borgbackup.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage/help.html#borg-help-patterns) for more.
-- `borg_install_method`: By default `pip` is used to install borgmatic. To install via your distributions package manager set this to `package` and (if needed) overwrite the `borg_distro_packages` variable to contain your distributions package names required to install borgmatic. Note that many distributions ship outdated versions of borgbackup and borgmatic; use at your own risk.
+- `borg_install_method`: By default `pip` is used to install borgmatic. To install via your distributions package manager set this to `package` and (if needed) overwrite the `borg_distro_packages` variable to contain your distributions package names required to install borgmatic. Note that many distributions ship outdated versions of borgbackup and borgmatic; use at your own risk. `none` completely disables installation management.
 - `borg_require_epel`: When using `borg_install_method: package` on RHEL-based distributions, the EPEL repo is required. To disable the check (e.g. when using a custom mirror instead of the `epel-release` package), set this to `false`. Defaults to `{{ ansible_os_family == 'RedHat' and ansible_distribution != 'Fedora' }}` (i.e. `true` on Enterprise Linux-based distros).
 - `borg_lock_wait_time`: Config maximum seconds to wait for acquiring a repository/cache lock. Defaults to 5 seconds.
 - `borg_one_file_system`: Don't cross file-system boundaries. Defaults to `true`
diff --git a/meta/argument_specs.yml b/meta/argument_specs.yml
index 11265c9..f77b9ca 100644
--- a/meta/argument_specs.yml
+++ b/meta/argument_specs.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ argument_specs:
           overwrite the borg_distro_packages variable to contain your distributions package names
           required to install borgmatic.
           Note that many distributions ship outdated versions of borgbackup and borgmatic; use at your own risk.
+          Set to none to disable installation management.
       borgmatic_config_name:
         type: str
         required: false
diff --git a/tasks/01_install.yml b/tasks/01_install.yml
index 83896fc..ac5357c 100644
--- a/tasks/01_install.yml
+++ b/tasks/01_install.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
 - name: Install borgbackup
+  when: borg_install_method != "none"
   block:
     - name: Include OS-specific variables
       include_vars: "{{ item }}"