diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 8f41a49..c8b6e26 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ pip_timeout: 120
 
 # Options for pip install
 pip_upgrade: true
+pip_upgrade_strategy: "only-if-needed"
 
 # Default index for pip to use
 pip_default_index: https://pypi.python.org/simple
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/pip-control-upgrade-strategy-2807e228d529c389.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/pip-control-upgrade-strategy-2807e228d529c389.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c34d1e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/pip-control-upgrade-strategy-2807e228d529c389.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    The PIP upgrade strategy can now be controlled using the new
+    ``pip_install_strategy`` variable which can either be ``eager``
+    if the deployers want to upgrade both the package and its dependencies or
+    ``only-if-needed`` if they want to only upgrade what's really necessary.
+    More information can be found on the `PIP user guide
+    <https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/user_guide/#only-if-needed-recursive-upgrade>`_
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The default PIP stategy has been changed to ``only-of-needed`` in order to
+    minimize the amount of packages which are updated during installation.
+    Deployers can still override the default option using the ``pip_install_strategy``
+    variable.
diff --git a/templates/pip.conf.j2 b/templates/pip.conf.j2
index 30054ab..9b94138 100644
--- a/templates/pip.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/pip.conf.j2
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ trusted-host =
 
 [install]
 upgrade = {{ pip_upgrade }}
+upgrade-strategy = {{ pip_upgrade_strategy }}
 pre = {{ pip_enable_pre_releases }}
 {% if pip_links | length > 0 %}
 find-links =