diff --git a/roles/motd/tasks/main.yml b/roles/motd/tasks/main.yml
index 3fbe10f..f930c69 100644
--- a/roles/motd/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/motd/tasks/main.yml
@@ -3,5 +3,10 @@
 - name: remove default motd items
   file: state=absent path=/etc/update-motd.d/{{ item }}
   loop: "{{ motd_remove + motd_remove_extra }}"
+- name: disable motd-news
+  systemd: name="{{ item }}" state=stopped enabled=no
+  with_items:
+    - motd-news.service
+    - motd-news.timer
 - name: template out motd script
   template: src=motd.sh dest=/etc/update-motd.d/50-ansible mode=0755