diff --git a/roles/openvpn/defaults/main.yml b/roles/openvpn/defaults/main.yml
index 81563f643..e378c94dd 100644
--- a/roles/openvpn/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/openvpn/defaults/main.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ openvpn_install: True
 openvpn_enable: False
 
 openvpn_handle: UNNAMED
-openvpn_cron_enabled: True
+# cron seems necessary on CentOS:
+openvpn_cron_enabled: False
 
 vpn_presence: xscenet.net
 openvpn_server_virtual_ip: 10.8.0.1