diff --git a/.govuk_dependabot_merger.yml b/.govuk_dependabot_merger.yml
index b1d3bbddf..b182701d0 100644
--- a/.govuk_dependabot_merger.yml
+++ b/.govuk_dependabot_merger.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 api_version: 2
 defaults:
   auto_merge: true
+  update_external_dependencies: true