diff --git a/postgresql/defaults/main.yml b/postgresql/defaults/main.yml
index 01ddd571..0b901f63 100644
--- a/postgresql/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/postgresql/defaults/main.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 pg_use_postgresql_org_repo: True
 
 psql_postgresql_install: True
+psql_pkg_state: installed
 postgresql_enabled: True
 psql_pgpool_install: False
+psql_pgpool_pkg_state: installed
 # 9.3 is the default version for Ubuntu trusty
 # It is highly recommended to use the postgresql.org repositories
 #
diff --git a/postgresql/tasks/packages.yml b/postgresql/tasks/packages.yml
index b3c89d4d..bbe26d44 100644
--- a/postgresql/tasks/packages.yml
+++ b/postgresql/tasks/packages.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 ---
 - name: install the postgresql packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=installed
+  apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ psql_pkg_state }}
   with_items: '{{ postgresql_pkgs }}'
   notify: Restart postgresql
   tags: [ 'postgresql', 'postgres' ]
 
 - name: Install the packages that ansible needs to manage the postgresql users and databases
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=installed
+  apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ psql_pkg_state }}
   with_items:
     - python-psycopg2
   tags: [ 'postgresql', 'postgres' ]
diff --git a/postgresql/tasks/pgpool-ii.yml b/postgresql/tasks/pgpool-ii.yml
index ce042be2..c616e485 100644
--- a/postgresql/tasks/pgpool-ii.yml
+++ b/postgresql/tasks/pgpool-ii.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 - name: Install the pgpool package
-  apt: name={{ item }} state=installed
+  apt: name={{ item }} state={{ psql_pgpool_pkg_state }}
   with_items: '{{ pgpool_pkgs }}'
   tags: [ 'postgresql', 'pgpool' ]