diff --git a/roles/openafs-client/tasks/openafs-client/Debian.yaml b/roles/openafs-client/tasks/openafs-client/Debian.yaml
index 2d161ec9aa..efea5a647d 100644
--- a/roles/openafs-client/tasks/openafs-client/Debian.yaml
+++ b/roles/openafs-client/tasks/openafs-client/Debian.yaml
@@ -14,12 +14,14 @@
   become: yes
 
 # NOTE(ianw) : Need to do this first and separately so that the
-# modules are ready for the openafs-client package to start.
+# modules are ready for the openafs-client package to start.  Avoid
+# recommends because that drags in the client, which can't start
+# without the modules which are building in this step (we do it next)
 - name: Install openafs kernel modules
-  package:
-    name:
-      - openafs-modules-dkms
+  apt:
+    name: openafs-modules-dkms
     state: latest
+    install_recommends: no
   become: yes
 
 - name: Install client packages