diff --git a/bench/commands/install.py b/bench/commands/install.py
index 5a271bf4..e17ad08a 100644
--- a/bench/commands/install.py
+++ b/bench/commands/install.py
@@ -14,9 +14,16 @@ def install_prerequisites():
 
 @click.command('mariadb')
 @click.option('--mysql_root_password')
-def install_maridb(mysql_root_password=''):
+@click.option('--version', default="10.2")
+def install_maridb(mysql_root_password='', version=''):
 	if mysql_root_password:
-		extra_vars.update({"mysql_root_password": mysql_root_password})
+		extra_vars.update({
+			"mysql_root_password": mysql_root_password,
+		})
+
+	extra_vars.update({
+		"mariadb_version": version
+	})
 
 	run_playbook('site.yml', extra_vars=extra_vars, tag='mariadb')
 
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
index 78831c10..dc98044e 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/mariadb/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 ---
-mariadb_version: 10.2
-
 mysql_conf_tpl: change_me
 mysql_conf_file: settings.cnf