diff --git a/roles/install-docker/README.rst b/roles/install-docker/README.rst
index 3593649bb..0ffdd9872 100644
--- a/roles/install-docker/README.rst
+++ b/roles/install-docker/README.rst
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ An ansible role to install docker and configure it to use mirrors if available.
    By default this role adds repositories to install docker from upstream
    docker. Set this to False to use the docker that comes with the distro.
 
+.. zuul:rolevar:: docker_compose_install
+   :default: False
+
+   This role does not install docker-compose by default but you can use
+   this setting to install docker-compose as well.
+
 .. zuul:rolevar:: docker_update_channel
    :default: stable
 
diff --git a/roles/install-docker/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/install-docker/defaults/main.yaml
index ab0d0743d..3e73d4bf0 100644
--- a/roles/install-docker/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/install-docker/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ docker_group: docker
 #                  The default option will return an empty list which
 #                  allows folks to override these lists as they see fit.
 docker_distro_packages: "{{ _docker_distro_packages | default([]) }}"
+docker_compose_install: false
 docker_upstream_distro_packages: "{{ _docker_upstream_distro_packages | default([]) }}"
 docker_upstream_distro_required_packages: "{{ _docker_upstream_distro_required_packages | default([]) }}"
 docker_update_channel: stable
diff --git a/roles/install-docker/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/install-docker/tasks/main.yaml
index d5f401f5b..be1ff7e28 100644
--- a/roles/install-docker/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/install-docker/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -57,6 +57,13 @@
 
 - include_tasks: "docker-{{ (use_upstream_docker | bool) | ternary('upstream', 'distro') }}.yaml"
 
+- name: Install docker-compose
+  become: true
+  package:
+    name: docker-compose
+    state: present
+  when: docker_compose_install | bool
+
 - name: Flush handlers before role exit
   meta: flush_handlers