diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index c91c9e6f..549dc1a5 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ openstack_host_ca_certificates: []
 openstack_ca_bundle_path: "{{ _openstack_ca_bundle_path }}"
 
 # extra configuration for OS package manager
+openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf: "{{ _openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf | default('') }}"
 openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf: ''
 
 # apt pins to apply to all hosts in the deployment
diff --git a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_apt.yml b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_apt.yml
index ab26704b..f36d63d0 100644
--- a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_apt.yml
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@
 
 - name: Add apt extra conf
   copy:
-    content: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
+    content: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf + openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
     dest: /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/99openstack-ansible
   when:
-    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0
+    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0 or openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf | length > 0
 
 - name: Update Apt cache
   apt:
diff --git a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_dnf.yml b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_dnf.yml
index 18a4dd95..5bd2c52f 100644
--- a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_dnf.yml
+++ b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_dnf.yml
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@
 
 - name: Add dnf extra conf
   blockinfile:
-    block: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
+    block: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf + openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
     path: /etc/dnf/dnf.conf
     marker: "# {mark} OPENSTACK-ANSIBLE-OPENSTACK_HOSTS MANAGED BLOCK"
     create: yes
   when:
-    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0
+    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0 or openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf | length > 0
 
 - name: Add rdo repositories via url
   get_url:
diff --git a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_yum.yml b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_yum.yml
index 1aa93b3f..ea414dc1 100644
--- a/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_yum.yml
+++ b/tasks/openstack_hosts_configure_yum.yml
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@
 
 - name: Add yum extra conf
   blockinfile:
-    block: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
+    block: "{{ openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf + openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf }}"
     path: /etc/yum.conf
     marker: "# {mark} OPENSTACK-ANSIBLE-OPENSTACK_HOSTS MANAGED BLOCK"
     create: yes
   when:
-    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0
+    - openstack_hosts_package_manager_extra_conf | length > 0 or openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf | length > 0
diff --git a/vars/debian.yml b/vars/debian.yml
index b9c6f3a9..e85783ce 100644
--- a/vars/debian.yml
+++ b/vars/debian.yml
@@ -90,3 +90,6 @@ _package_repos:
     filename: "osbpo"
 
 _openstack_ca_bundle_path: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
+
+_openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf: |
+  APT::Install-Recommends "false";
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu.yml b/vars/ubuntu.yml
index 1b98a6c0..c83965b0 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu.yml
@@ -91,3 +91,6 @@ _package_repos:
     filename: "uca"
 
 _openstack_ca_bundle_path: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
+
+_openstack_hosts_package_manager_default_conf: |
+  APT::Install-Recommends "false";