diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 93b8cb3..2a0a3ea 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ prometheus_user_comment: Prometheus
 prometheus_group: "{{ prometheus_user }}"
 prometheus_extra_groups: []
 
-prometheus_packages: []
+prometheus_packages:
+  - tar
 
 prometheus_base_dir: "/opt/prometheus"
 prometheus_config_dir: "{{ prometheus_base_dir }}/conf"