diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 4f068cf..5cae7e9 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 conda_directory: /opt/conda
 conda_installer_url: https://repo.continuum.io/miniconda/Miniconda3-4.5.11-Linux-x86_64.sh
 conda_installer_checksum: sha256:ea4594241e13a2671c5b158b3b813f0794fe58d514795fbf72a1aad24db918cf
+
+conda_anaconda_env: true
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 814582b..21e1f0b 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
   command: conda update --all --json --quiet
   environment:
     PATH: /opt/conda/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}
-  register: _conda_update_command
-  failed_when: _conda_update_command.rc != 0 and not _conda_update.sucess
-  changed_when: _conda_update.actions is defined
+  register: _conda_command
+  failed_when: _conda_command.rc != 0 or not _conda.success
+  changed_when: _conda.actions is defined
 
 - name: link conda fish
   file:
@@ -28,3 +28,19 @@
     dest: /etc/fish/conf.d/conda.fish
     state: link
     follow: false
+
+- name: anaconda environment
+  command: conda create -n anaconda anaconda --json --quiet
+  environment:
+    PATH: /opt/conda/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}
+  args:
+    creates: "{{ conda_directory }}/envs/anaconda"
+  when: conda_anaconda_env
+
+- name: update anaconda environment
+  command: conda update -n anaconda --all --json --quiet
+  environment:
+    PATH: /opt/conda/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}
+  register: _conda_command
+  changed_when: _conda.actions is defined
+  when: conda_anaconda_env
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index f26e17a..1cdd091 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 ---
 
 _conda_installer_filename: "{{ conda_installer_url | urlsplit('path') | basename }}"
-_conda_update: "{{ _conda_update_command.stdout | from_json }}"
+_conda: "{{ _conda_command.stdout | from_json }}"