diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index d52a3b92..20719c02 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ swift_ceilometer_enabled: False
 ## Verbosity Options
 debug: False
 
+# Set the package install state for distribution packages
+# Options are 'present' and 'latest'
+swift_package_state: "latest"
+
 swift_git_repo: https://git.openstack.org/openstack/swift
 swift_git_install_branch: master
 swift_requirements_git_repo: https://git.openstack.org/openstack/requirements
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/package-state-f2309b07440d0ae8.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-f2309b07440d0ae8.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbc1b8c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/package-state-f2309b07440d0ae8.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+features:
+  - The os_swift 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
+    ``swift_package_state`` to ``present``.
+upgrade:
+  - The os_swift 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
+    ``swift_package_state`` should be set to ``present``.
diff --git a/tasks/install-apt.yml b/tasks/install-apt.yml
index 91c04cc1..11118b6f 100644
--- a/tasks/install-apt.yml
+++ b/tasks/install-apt.yml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 - name: Install apt packages
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ swift_package_state }}"
   register: install_packages
   until: install_packages|success
   retries: 5
@@ -41,4 +41,4 @@
   with_items: "{{ swift_apt_packages }}"
   tags:
     - swift-install
-    - swift-apt-packages
\ No newline at end of file
+    - swift-apt-packages