diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 685b8de..d829875 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ docker_packages:
 docker_packages_state: present
 
 # Service options.
+docker_service_prevent_autostart: false
 docker_service_manage: true
 docker_service_state: started
 docker_service_enabled: true
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index dcd47de..6ae2bfd 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,15 @@
     state: "{{ docker_packages_state }}"
   notify: restart docker
   ignore_errors: "{{ ansible_check_mode }}"
-  when: "ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '<') or ansible_os_family not in ['RedHat', 'Debian']"
+  when: "(not (docker_service_prevent_autostart | bool)) and (ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '<') or ansible_os_family not in ['RedHat', 'Debian'])"
+
+- name: Install Docker packages (and prevent auto-start).
+  package:
+    name: "{{ docker_packages }}"
+    state: "{{ docker_packages_state }}"
+    policy_rc_d: 101
+  ignore_errors: "{{ ansible_check_mode }}"
+  when: "ansible_os_family == 'Debian' and docker_service_prevent_autostart | bool and ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '<')"
 
 - name: Install Docker packages (with downgrade option).
   package:
@@ -31,7 +39,16 @@
     allow_downgrade: true
   notify: restart docker
   ignore_errors: "{{ ansible_check_mode }}"
-  when: "ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '>=') and ansible_os_family in ['RedHat', 'Debian']"
+  when: "(not (docker_service_prevent_autostart | bool)) and (ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '>=') and ansible_os_family in ['RedHat', 'Debian'])"
+
+- name: Install Docker packages (with downgrade option) (and prevent auto-start).
+  package:
+    name: "{{ docker_packages }}"
+    state: "{{ docker_packages_state }}"
+    allow_downgrade: true
+    policy_rc_d: 101
+  ignore_errors: "{{ ansible_check_mode }}"
+  when: "ansible_os_family == 'Debian' and docker_service_prevent_autostart | bool and ansible_version.full is version_compare('2.12', '>=')"
 
 - name: Install docker-compose plugin.
   package: