diff --git a/debian-updates/tasks/main.yml b/debian-updates/tasks/main.yml
index 62673d53ee59181d1b71248715e7fefba10bbdb5..56404a8d48aa4af7959ffb04efc3dcf608b041ad 100644
--- a/debian-updates/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/debian-updates/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 ---
 # file: supplemental/debian-updates/tasks/main.yml
 
+- name: ensure any dependencies are available
+  apt:
+    name: python3
+    state: installed
+  tags:
+    - debian-updates
+
 - name: ensure the deploy key is available
   copy:
     src: "{{ debupdates_deploy_key }}"