diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-base/defaults/main.yml
index fc119a44e..9ffffc2fa 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-base/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-base/defaults/main.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@ matrix_docker_network: "matrix"
 # matrix domain (`matrix_server_fqn_matrix`).
 matrix_well_known_matrix_server_enabled: true
 
+# Controls whether Docker is automatically installed.
+# If you change this to false you must install and update Docker manually.
+matrix_docker_installation_enabled: true
+
+# Controls the Docker package that is installed.
+# Possible values are "docker-ce" (default) and "docker.io" (Debian).
+matrix_docker_package_name: docker-ce
+
 # Variables to Control which parts of our roles run.
 run_postgres_import: true
 run_postgres_upgrade: true
diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/main.yml b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/main.yml
index 6587d81dd..909cad200 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/main.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
   tags:
     - setup-all
 
-- import_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/setup_server_base.yml"
+- import_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/server_base/setup.yml"
   when: run_setup|bool
   tags:
     - setup-all
diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup.yml b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..45feb1527
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+
+- include_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/server_base/setup_centos.yml"
+  when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
+
+- include_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/server_base/setup_debian.yml"
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: Ensure Docker is started and autoruns
+  service:
+    name: docker
+    state: started
+    enabled: yes
+
+- name: Ensure ntpd is started and autoruns
+  service:
+    name: "{{ 'ntpd' if ansible_os_family == 'RedHat' else 'ntp' }}"
+    state: started
+    enabled: yes
diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_centos.yml b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_centos.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2554e26e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_centos.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+---
+
+- name: Ensure Docker repository is enabled
+  template:
+    src: "{{ role_path }}/files/yum.repos.d/{{ item }}"
+    dest: "/etc/yum.repos.d/{{ item }}"
+    owner: "root"
+    group: "root"
+    mode: 0644
+  with_items:
+    - docker-ce.repo
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool and matrix_docker_package_name == 'docker-ce'
+
+- name: Ensure Docker's RPM key is trusted
+  rpm_key:
+    state: present
+    key: https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/gpg
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool and matrix_docker_package_name == 'docker-ce'
+
+- name: Ensure yum packages are installed
+  yum:
+    name:
+      - bash-completion
+      - docker-python
+      - ntp
+      - fuse
+    state: latest
+    update_cache: yes
+
+- name: Ensure Docker is installed
+  yum:
+    name:
+      - "{{ matrix_docker_package_name }}"
+    state: latest
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool
diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_debian.yml b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_debian.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a9192f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/server_base/setup_debian.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+---
+
+- name: Ensure APT usage dependencies are installed
+  apt:
+    name:
+      - apt-transport-https
+      - ca-certificates
+    state: present
+    update_cache: yes
+
+- name: Ensure Docker's APT key is trusted
+  apt_key:
+    url: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg
+    id: 9DC858229FC7DD38854AE2D88D81803C0EBFCD88
+    state: present
+  register: add_repository_key
+  ignore_errors: true
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool and matrix_docker_package_name == 'docker-ce'
+
+- name: Ensure Docker repository is enabled
+  apt_repository:
+    repo: "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/{{ ansible_distribution|lower }} {{ ansible_distribution_release }} stable"
+    state: present
+    update_cache: yes
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool and matrix_docker_package_name == 'docker-ce'
+
+- name: Ensure APT packages are installed
+  apt:
+    name:
+      - bash-completion
+      - python-docker
+      - ntp
+      - fuse
+    state: latest
+    update_cache: yes
+
+- name: Ensure Docker is installed
+  apt:
+    name:
+      - "{{ matrix_docker_package_name }}"
+    state: latest
+  when: matrix_docker_installation_enabled|bool
diff --git a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/setup_server_base.yml b/roles/matrix-base/tasks/setup_server_base.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b32355c59..000000000
--- a/roles/matrix-base/tasks/setup_server_base.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
----
-
-- name: Ensure Docker repository is enabled (CentOS)
-  template:
-    src: "{{ role_path }}/files/yum.repos.d/{{ item }}"
-    dest: "/etc/yum.repos.d/{{ item }}"
-    owner: "root"
-    group: "root"
-    mode: 0644
-  with_items:
-    - docker-ce.repo
-  when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
-
-- name: Ensure Docker's RPM key is trusted
-  rpm_key:
-    state: present
-    key: https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/gpg
-  when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
-
-- name: Ensure yum packages are installed (CentOS)
-  yum:
-    name:
-      - bash-completion
-      - docker-ce
-      - docker-python
-      - ntp
-      - fuse
-    state: latest
-    update_cache: yes
-  when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
-
-- name: Ensure APT usage dependencies are installed (Debian)
-  apt:
-    name:
-      - apt-transport-https
-      - ca-certificates
-    state: present
-    update_cache: yes
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
-
-- name: Gather package facts (Debian)
-  package_facts:
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
-
-- name: Ensure Docker's APT key is trusted (Debian)
-  apt_key:
-    url: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg
-    id: 9DC858229FC7DD38854AE2D88D81803C0EBFCD88
-    state: present
-  register: add_repository_key
-  ignore_errors: true
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian' and 'docker.io' not in ansible_facts.packages
-
-- name: Ensure Docker repository is enabled (Debian)
-  apt_repository:
-    repo: "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/{{ ansible_distribution|lower }} {{ ansible_distribution_release }} stable"
-    state: present
-    update_cache: yes
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian' and 'docker.io' not in ansible_facts.packages
-
-- name: Ensure APT packages are installed (Debian)
-  apt:
-    name:
-      - bash-completion
-      - python-docker
-      - ntp
-      - fuse
-    state: latest
-    update_cache: yes
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
-
-- name: Ensure docker-ce is installed (Debian)
-  apt:
-    name:
-      - docker-ce
-    state: latest
-    update_cache: yes
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian' and 'docker.io' not in ansible_facts.packages
-
-- name: Ensure Docker is started and autoruns
-  service:
-    name: docker
-    state: started
-    enabled: yes
-
-- name: Ensure ntpd is started and autoruns
-  service:
-    name: "{{ 'ntpd' if ansible_os_family == 'RedHat' else 'ntp' }}"
-    state: started
-    enabled: yes