diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 90ce022..843d468 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ gxadmin_bin_dir: "/usr/local/bin"
 gxadmin_config_dir: "~/.config"
 gxadmin_create_bin_dir: true
 gxadmin_repo: "https://github.com/galaxyproject/gxadmin.git"
+
+gxadmin_manage_dependencies: true  # install packages the role needs to run
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 4323b8e..26b7660 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,21 @@
 ---
+- name: Update apt cache (Debian derivatives)
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.apt:
+    cache_valid_time: 604800
+  when: >-
+    ansible_os_family == "Debian"
+    and gxadmin_manage_dependencies
+
+- name: Ensure role and gxadmin dependencies are installed
+  become: true
+  ansible.builtin.package:
+    name:
+      - git
+      - make
+      - "postgresql{{ '-client' if ansible_os_family == 'Debian' }}"
+    state: present
+  when: gxadmin_manage_dependencies
 
 - name: Clone gxadmin repository
   ansible.builtin.git: