diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index d37ae5e..54d7aac 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -626,6 +626,10 @@ ubtu24cis_desktop_required: false
 # This will also purge any packages not removed via this playbook
 ubtu24cis_purge_apt: false
 
+## Ignore change_when for apt update task
+# Modifies behavior of 'changed_when' for 'apt update' task  in prelim that always changes
+ignore_apt_update_changed_when: false
+
 ##
 ## Section 1 Control Variables
 ##
diff --git a/tasks/prelim.yml b/tasks/prelim.yml
index c5eac21..8dbd904 100644
--- a/tasks/prelim.yml
+++ b/tasks/prelim.yml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
   tags: always
   ansible.builtin.package:
     update_cache: true
+  changed_when: not ignore_apt_update_changed_when
 
 - name: Include audit specific variables
   when: