diff --git a/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/defaults/main.yml b/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/defaults/main.yml
index b1d47b71..1fa2c5c6 100644
--- a/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/defaults/main.yml
@@ -41,3 +41,6 @@ elastic_lxc_template_config:
 # be derived automatically using 1/4 of the available RAM for logstash and 1/2
 # of the available RAM for elasticsearch. The value is expected to be in MiB.
 # elastic_heap_size_default: 10240  # type `int`
+
+# Set the friendly name of the version of java that will be used as the default.
+elastic_java_version: java-8
diff --git a/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/tasks/main.yml b/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/tasks/main.yml
index d78fc92c..27eef9a2 100644
--- a/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/elk_metrics_6x/roles/elastic_dependencies/tasks/main.yml
@@ -195,6 +195,21 @@
   tags:
     - package_install
 
+- name: Set java alternatives
+  block:
+    - name: Get java version alternantive
+      shell: >-
+        update-alternatives --query java | awk -F':' '/{{ elastic_java_version }}/ && /Alternative/ {print $2}'
+      register: java_alternatives
+      changed_when: false
+
+    - name: Set java version alternantive
+      alternatives:
+        name: java
+        path: "{{ java_alternatives.stdout.strip() }}"
+  when:
+    - (ansible_os_family | lower) == 'debian'
+
 - name: Ensure service directories exists
   file:
     path: "/etc/{{ service_name }}"