diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 620c4e1f..f323e9bd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ This is similar to the [EMnify/matrix-synapse-auto-deploy](https://github.com/EM
 
 - this one **can be re-ran many times** without causing trouble
 
+- works on both **CentOS** (7.0+) and Debian-based distributions (**Debian** 9/Stretch+, **Ubuntu** 16.04+)
+
 - this one **runs everything in Docker containers** (like [silviof/docker-matrix](https://hub.docker.com/r/silviof/docker-matrix/) and [silviof/matrix-riot-docker](https://hub.docker.com/r/silviof/matrix-riot-docker/)), so it's likely more predictable
 
 - this one retrieves and automatically renews free [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) **SSL certificates** for you
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ Special thanks goes to:
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-- **CentOS server** with no services running on port 80/443 (making this run on non-CentOS servers should be possible in the future)
+- **CentOS** (7.0+), **Debian** (9/Stretch+) or **Ubuntu** (16.04+) server with no services running on port 80/443
 
 - the [Ansible](http://ansible.com/) program, which is used to run this playbook and configures everything for you
 
diff --git a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_base.yml b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_base.yml
index 1caa89e5..99065a37 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_base.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_base.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     key: https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/gpg
   when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
 
-- name: Ensure yum packages are installed (base)
+- name: Ensure yum packages are installed (CentOS)
   yum: name="{{ item }}" state=latest update_cache=yes
   with_items:
     - bash-completion
@@ -27,14 +27,54 @@
     - ntp
   when: ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'
 
+- name: Ensure APT usage dependencies are installed (Debian)
+  apt:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: present
+    update_cache: yes
+  with_items:
+    - apt-transport-https
+    - ca-certificates
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: Ensure Docker's APT key is trusted (Debian)
+  apt_key:
+    url: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg
+    id: 9DC858229FC7DD38854AE2D88D81803C0EBFCD88
+    state: present
+  register: add_repository_key
+  ignore_errors: true
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: Ensure Docker repository is enabled (Debian)
+  apt_repository:
+    repo: "deb https://download.docker.com/linux/{{ ansible_distribution|lower }} {{ ansible_distribution_release }} stable"
+    state: present
+    update_cache: yes
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
+- name: Ensure APT packages are installed (Debian)
+  apt: name="{{ item }}" state=latest update_cache=yes
+  with_items:
+    - bash-completion
+    - docker-ce
+    - python-docker
+    - ntp
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
+
 - name: Ensure firewalld is started and autoruns
   service: name=firewalld state=started enabled=yes
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
 - name: Ensure Docker is started and autoruns
   service: name=docker state=started enabled=yes
 
 - name: Ensure ntpd is started and autoruns
-  service: name=ntpd state=started enabled=yes
+  service:
+    name: "{{ 'ntpd' if ansible_os_family == 'RedHat' else 'ntp' }}"
+    state: started
+    enabled: yes
 
 - name: Ensure SELinux disabled
   selinux: state=disabled
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_nginx_proxy.yml b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_nginx_proxy.yml
index 307d8a24..1839684d 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_nginx_proxy.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_nginx_proxy.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
   with_items:
     - "http"
     - "https"
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
 - name: Ensure matrix-nginx-proxy.service installed
   template:
diff --git a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_ssl.yml b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_ssl.yml
index 1b4bf043..c9b7afe0 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_ssl.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_ssl.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   with_items:
     - http
     - https
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
 - name: Ensure acmetool Docker image is pulled
   docker_image:
diff --git a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_synapse.yml b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_synapse.yml
index 64cae5fb..bd5ddc7b 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_synapse.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-server/tasks/setup_synapse.yml
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
     - '3478/tcp' # STUN
     - '3478/udp' # STUN
     - "{{ matrix_coturn_turn_udp_min_port }}-{{ matrix_coturn_turn_udp_max_port }}/udp" # TURN
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
 - name: Ensure matrix-synapse.service installed
   template:
diff --git a/roles/matrix-server/templates/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2 b/roles/matrix-server/templates/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
index 6690a1fe..fd755d36 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-server/templates/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-server/templates/systemd/matrix-synapse.service.j2
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ Requires=matrix-s3fs.service
 Type=simple
 ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/docker kill matrix-synapse
 ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/docker rm matrix-synapse
-ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/chown {{ matrix_user_username }}:{{ matrix_user_username }} {{ ssl_certs_path }} -R
+ExecStartPre=-{{ '/usr/bin/chown' if ansible_os_family == 'RedHat' else '/bin/chown' }} {{ matrix_user_username }}:{{ matrix_user_username }} {{ ssl_certs_path }} -R
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker run --rm --name matrix-synapse \
 			{% if not matrix_postgres_use_external %}
 			--link matrix-postgres:{{ matrix_postgres_connection_hostname }} \