diff --git a/files/smartmontools b/files/smartmontools
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..70b3cdc3a83d5a4de680060fea20c91a849a2b47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/smartmontools
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Defaults for smartmontools initscript (/etc/init.d/smartmontools)
+# This is a POSIX shell fragment
+
+# List of devices you want to explicitly enable S.M.A.R.T. for
+# Not needed (and not recommended) if the device is monitored by smartd
+#enable_smart="/dev/hda /dev/hdb"
+
+# uncomment to start smartd on system startup
+#start_smartd=yes
+
+# uncomment to pass additional options to smartd on startup
+#smartd_opts="--interval=1800"
+smartd_opts="-q never"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index fc3adb8183d02dccc8caae70b83999c2c6ff55f5..d3ef024e643bb3e5c5fe21335d1f7a7bc48f58be 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -25,3 +25,14 @@
     src: dotfiles/tmux.conf
     dest: /etc/tmux.conf
     mode: 0644
+
+- name: work around a debian bug in smartmontools
+  copy:
+    src: smartmontools
+    dest: /etc/default/smartmontools
+    mode: 0644
+
+- name: enforce vim as editor
+  community.general.alternatives:
+    name: editor
+    path: /usr/bin/vim.basic