diff --git a/installer/roles/local_docker/defaults/main.yml b/installer/roles/local_docker/defaults/main.yml
index 9f308ea734..22f74d47ee 100644
--- a/installer/roles/local_docker/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/installer/roles/local_docker/defaults/main.yml
@@ -18,3 +18,5 @@ memcached_image: "memcached"
 memcached_version: "alpine"
 memcached_hostname: "memcached"
 memcached_port: "11211"
+
+compose_start_containers: true
diff --git a/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/compose.yml b/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/compose.yml
index f6dab2589e..949e30c8d6 100644
--- a/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/compose.yml
+++ b/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/compose.yml
@@ -23,16 +23,18 @@
     mode: 0600
   register: awx_secret_key
 
-- name: Start the containers
-  docker_compose:
-    project_src: "{{ docker_compose_dir }}"
-    restarted: "{{ awx_compose_config is changed or awx_secret_key is changed }}"
-  register: awx_compose_start
+- block:
+    - name: Start the containers
+      docker_compose:
+        project_src: "{{ docker_compose_dir }}"
+        restarted: "{{ awx_compose_config is changed or awx_secret_key is changed }}"
+      register: awx_compose_start
 
-- name: Update CA trust in awx_web container
-  command: docker exec awx_web '/usr/bin/update-ca-trust'
-  when: awx_compose_config.changed or awx_compose_start.changed
+    - name: Update CA trust in awx_web container
+      command: docker exec awx_web '/usr/bin/update-ca-trust'
+      when: awx_compose_config.changed or awx_compose_start.changed
 
-- name: Update CA trust in awx_task container
-  command: docker exec awx_task '/usr/bin/update-ca-trust'
-  when: awx_compose_config.changed or awx_compose_start.changed
+    - name: Update CA trust in awx_task container
+      command: docker exec awx_task '/usr/bin/update-ca-trust'
+      when: awx_compose_config.changed or awx_compose_start.changed
+  when: compose_start_containers|bool
diff --git a/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/main.yml b/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/main.yml
index e90ee30ca7..446f110f83 100644
--- a/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/installer/roles/local_docker/tasks/main.yml
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
   file:
     path: "{{ postgres_data_dir + '/pgdata' }}"
     state: absent
+  when: compose_start_containers|bool
 
 - import_tasks: set_image.yml
 - import_tasks: compose.yml