diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 7e10b20a..fff58223 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 ## Verbosity Options
 debug: False
 
+# Set the package install state for distribution packages
+# Options are 'present' and 'latest'
+neutron_package_state: "latest"
+
 neutron_git_repo: https://git.openstack.org/openstack/neutron
 neutron_git_install_branch: master
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/package-state-fb7d26a4b7c41a77.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-fb7d26a4b7c41a77.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81076fa7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-fb7d26a4b7c41a77.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+features:
+  - The os_neutron role now supports the ability to configure whether
+    apt/yum tasks install the latest available package, or just ensure
+    that the package is present. The default action is to ensure that
+    the latest package is present. The action taken may be changed to
+    only ensure that the package is present by setting
+    ``neutron_package_state`` to ``present``.
+upgrade:
+  - The os_neutron role always checks whether the latest package is
+    installed when executed. If a deployer wishes to change the check to
+    only validate the presence of the package, the option
+    ``neutron_package_state`` should be set to ``present``.
diff --git a/tasks/neutron_install-apt.yml b/tasks/neutron_install-apt.yml
index 4e75779d..20cecd6c 100644
--- a/tasks/neutron_install-apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/neutron_install-apt.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 - name: Add Ubuntu Cloud Archive keyring
   apt:
     pkg: ubuntu-cloud-keyring
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: add_uca_keys
   when: neutron_uca_enable | bool
 
@@ -44,17 +44,17 @@
 - name: Install neutron apt dependencies
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
   delay: 2
   with_items: "{{ neutron_apt_packages }}"
 
-- name: Install apt packages for lxb
+- name: Install apt packages for LXB
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@
     - neutron_services['neutron-linuxbridge-agent']['group'] in group_names
     - neutron_services['neutron-linuxbridge-agent'].service_en | bool
 
-- name: Install apt packages for ovs
+- name: Install apt packages for OVS
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 - name: Install apt packages for LBaaS
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
 - name: Install apt packages for VPNaaS
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ neutron_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
     - neutron_services['neutron-vpnaas-agent']['group'] in group_names
     - neutron_vpnaas | bool
 
-- name: remove specific apt packages
+- name: Remove known problem packages
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
     state: absent