diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5bdc3cc..a49f126 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -5,13 +5,15 @@
 env ?= staging
 vault_id ?= alpina@contrib/rbw-client.sh
 
+clean_desired ?= false
+
 all: site
 
 setup:
 	poetry install --quiet
 
 site: setup
-	poetry run ansible-playbook --vault-id ${vault_id} -i inventories/${env} site.yml
+	poetry run ansible-playbook --vault-id ${vault_id} -i inventories/${env} --extra-vars "clean_desired_arg=${clean_desired}" site.yml
 
 services: setup
 	poetry run ansible-playbook --vault-id ${vault_id} -i inventories/${env} services.yml
diff --git a/site.yml b/site.yml
index fdab9eb..99098dd 100644
--- a/site.yml
+++ b/site.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
   roles:
     - common
   pre_tasks:
-  - name: Set fact for clean required
+  - name: Set fact for clean desired of docker objects and compose files
     set_fact:
-      clean_desired: true
+      # clean_desired_arg is an extra variable passed to the playbook
+      clean_desired: "{{ clean_desired_arg | bool }}"
 
 
 - name: Install services