diff --git a/roles/transmission/tasks/main.yml b/roles/transmission/tasks/main.yml
index 6bb907551..540408234 100644
--- a/roles/transmission/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/transmission/tasks/main.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 - name: Add KA Lite torrent(s) to transmission-daemon's queue
   shell: >
     /usr/bin/transmission-remote
+    --start-paused
     -n {{ transmission_username }}:{{ transmission_password }}
     -a http://pantry.learningequality.org/downloads/ka-lite/{{ transmission_kalite_version }}/content/ka-lite-0.17-resized-videos-{{ item }}.torrent
   with_items: "{{ transmission_kalite_languages }}"