diff --git a/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml b/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
index f106a103d..fdf726280 100644
--- a/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/mongodb/tasks/main.yml
@@ -31,16 +31,24 @@
 - debug:
     var: is_raspbian
 
+# might be able to lift this once we know using bionic would work
+- name: EXIT 'mongodb' ROLE & CONTINUE, IF 'is_debian_10 and aarch64 and not is_raspbian' i.e. TRUE DEBIAN with arch64
+  fail:    # FORCE IT RED THIS ONCE!
+    msg: ATTEMPTED MongoDB INSTALLATION WITH (TRUE) DEBIAN aarch64, which is not supported upstream.  Nevertheless IIAB will continue (consider this a warning!)
+  when: (ansible_architecture == "aarch64") and is_debian_10 and not is_raspbian
+  ignore_errors: yes
+
+# ELSE...
 - name: Install MongoDB if 'mongodb_installed' not defined, e.g. in {{ iiab_state_file }}    # /etc/iiab/iiab_state.yml
   include_tasks: install.yml
-  when: mongodb_installed is undefined
+  when: mongodb_installed is undefined and not (ansible_architecture == "aarch64" and is_debian_10 and not is_raspbian)
 
 - name: Disable & Stop 'mongodb' service, if not mongodb_enabled
   systemd:
     name: mongodb
     enabled: no
     state: stopped
-  when: not mongodb_enabled
+  when: not mongodb_enabled and mongodb_installed is defined
 
 #'mongodb' systemd service - started on demand by sugarizer
 # Just recording that mongodb should be running