diff --git a/roles/caddy/defaults/main.yml b/roles/caddy/defaults/main.yml
index a830f81..60500e2 100644
--- a/roles/caddy/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/caddy/defaults/main.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ caddy_version: alpine
 caddy_caddyfile_dir: "{{ docker_stack_files_dir }}/caddy"
 
 caddy_use_debug: no
+caddy_use_api: yes # if no turns off api interface; it is *required* for other swarm roles to be routed
 
 caddy_use_https: yes
 caddy_tls_use_staging: no
diff --git a/roles/caddy/templates/Caddyfile.j2 b/roles/caddy/templates/Caddyfile.j2
index 5af154e..68ceb47 100644
--- a/roles/caddy/templates/Caddyfile.j2
+++ b/roles/caddy/templates/Caddyfile.j2
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 {% if caddy_use_debug is sameas true %}
     debug
 {% endif %}
+{% if caddy_use_api is sameas false %}
+    admin off
+{% endif %}
 
 {% if caddy_use_https is sameas false %}
     auto_https off