diff --git a/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml b/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
index f464a67..7694219 100644
--- a/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ mariadb_base_path: /var/lib/mariadb
 mariadb_data_path: >-2
   {{ mariadb_base_path }}/{{ mariadb_version | split('.') | first }}
 mariadb_state: present
+mariadb_deployment_method: docker
 
 mariadb_root_password: ~
 mariadb_database: ~
diff --git a/roles/mariadb/tasks/main.yml b/roles/mariadb/tasks/main.yml
index f92b001..0fbb518 100644
--- a/roles/mariadb/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mariadb/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,18 @@
 ---
+- name: Ensure mariadb state parameter is valid
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: >-2
+      Unknown state '{{ mariadb_state }}'!
+      Supported states are {{ mariadb_states | join(', ') }}
+  when: mariadb_state not in mariadb_states
+
+- name: Ensure deployment method is valid
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: >-2
+      Unknown deployment method '{{ mariadb_deployment_method }}'!
+      Supported deployment methods are {{ mariadb_deployment_methods | join(', ') }}
+  when: mariadb_deployment_method not in mariadb_deployment_methods
+
 - name: Ensure mariadb container image '{{ mariadb_container_image }}' is {{ mariadb_state }}
   community.docker.docker_image:
     name: "{{ mariadb_container_image }}"
diff --git a/roles/mariadb/vars/main.yml b/roles/mariadb/vars/main.yml
index b1bb083..1bb4e69 100644
--- a/roles/mariadb/vars/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mariadb/vars/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 ---
+mariadb_states:
+  - present
+  - absent
+mariadb_deployment_methods:
+  - docker
 
 mariadb_container_database_environment:
   MARIADB_DATABASE: "{{ mariadb_database }}"