diff --git a/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/README.md b/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/README.md
index c0e0acc4..01bd4406 100644
--- a/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/README.md
+++ b/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Role `apt_update_and_upgrade`
 
-This role does an `apt-get update`, `apt-get dist-upgrade` and a potential reboot (if packages got upgraded) on the specified hosts.
+This role does an `apt-get update`, `apt-get dist-upgrade`, `apt-get autoremove` and a potential reboot (if packages got upgraded) on the specified hosts.
 
 ## `hosts`
 
diff --git a/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/tasks/main.yaml
index 5d9181bf..62ba360a 100644
--- a/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/apt_update_and_upgrade/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -11,3 +11,7 @@
       register: apt_update_and_upgrade__upgrade_result
       notify:
         - reboot the system
+
+    - name: Remove dependencies that are no longer required
+      ansible.builtin.apt:
+        autoremove: true