diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
index 99fb272f8..8de4097e2 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/defaults/main.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_systemd_required_services_list: ['docker.service'
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_systemd_wanted_services_list: []
 
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_username: 'synapse'
-matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_password: 'some-password'
+matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_password: ''
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_hostname: ''
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_port: 5432
 matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_name: 'synapse'
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/main.yml
index b3549bd69..2cce1f122 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 ---
 
 - block:
+    - when: matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_enabled | bool
+      ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/validate_config.yml"
+
     - when: matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_enabled | bool
       ansible.builtin.include_tasks: "{{ role_path }}/tasks/install.yml"
   tags:
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/validate_config.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b0dbfab06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-synapse-auto-compressor/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+
+- name: Fail if required matrix-synapse-auto-compressor settings not defined
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: >
+      You need to define a required configuration setting (`{{ item }}`).
+  when: "vars[item] == ''"
+  with_items:
+    - matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_hostname
+    - matrix_synapse_auto_compressor_database_password