diff --git a/defaults/main.yaml b/defaults/main.yaml
index 36daee0..4f76ca5 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -18,3 +18,5 @@ application_starters:
   - xfce4-terminal
 
 xfce_pannel_on_top: true
+
+libreoffice_release_distribution: bullseye-backports
diff --git a/tasks/libreoffice.yaml b/tasks/libreoffice.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04b2e1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/libreoffice.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+
+- name: libreoffice packages
+  apt:
+    pkg: "{{libreoffice_packages}}"
+    state: latest
+    default_release: "{{libreoffice_release_distribution}}"
+  tags:
+    - libreoffice-update
diff --git a/tasks/main.yaml b/tasks/main.yaml
index f69d6e5..c67e8f2 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
   apt:
     pkg: "{{ desktop_packages }}"
 
+- import_tasks: libreoffice.yaml
+
 - name: ensure dunst package is absent for nicer notifications
   apt:
     pkg: dunst
diff --git a/vars/main.yaml b/vars/main.yaml
index c348abb..e4313ff 100644
--- a/vars/main.yaml
+++ b/vars/main.yaml
@@ -80,15 +80,7 @@ desktop_packages:
 
   # office
   - evince
-  - libreoffice
-  - libreoffice-writer
-  - libreoffice-calc
-  - libreoffice-draw
-  - libreoffice-impress
-  - libreoffice-gtk3
-  - libreoffice-l10n-de
-  - libreoffice-help-de
-  - libreoffice-gnome
+  # see libreoffice_packages
 
   # remote desktop tools
   - tigervnc-common
@@ -154,3 +146,14 @@ desktop_packages:
   # themes
   - dmz-cursor-theme
   - gnome-brave-icon-theme
+
+libreoffice_packages:
+  - libreoffice
+  - libreoffice-writer
+  - libreoffice-calc
+  - libreoffice-draw
+  - libreoffice-impress
+  - libreoffice-gtk3
+  - libreoffice-l10n-de
+  - libreoffice-help-de
+  - libreoffice-gnome