diff --git a/roles/java-deptools/tasks/main.yml b/roles/java-deptools/tasks/main.yml
index 1e7430c2dd..8e5c47887a 100644
--- a/roles/java-deptools/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/java-deptools/tasks/main.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@
   tags:
   - packages
 
+- name: Enable and start cron
+  service: name=crond state=started enabled=yes
+  tags:
+  - service
+
 - name: Initialize postgres if necessary
   command: postgresql-setup --initdb
   args: