diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 33a4e02..6710372 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ consistency.
 
 | Variable                       | Description                                                              | Default Value                  |
 |--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
+| `k3s_cluster_state`            | State of cluster, options: installed, started, stopped, restarted.       | installed                      |
 | `k3s_release_version`          | Use a specific version of k3s, eg. `v0.2.0`. Specify `false` for latest. | `false`                        |
 | `k3s_github_url`               | Set the GitHub URL to install k3s from.                                  | https://github.com/rancher/k3s |
 | `k3s_install_dir`              | Installation directory for k3s.                                          | `/usr/local/bin`               |
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 8cb7556..031c193 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 ---
 
+# k3s cluster state, options: installed, started, stopped, restarted
+# (default: installed)
+k3s_cluster_state: installed
+
 # Use a specific k3s version, if set to "false" we will get the latest
 # k3s_release_version: v0.1.0
 k3s_release_version: false
diff --git a/molecule/default/playbook-restart-cluster.yml b/molecule/default/playbook-restart-cluster.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d89782b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/molecule/default/playbook-restart-cluster.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+- name: Converge
+  hosts: all
+  become: true
+  vars:
+    molecule_is_test: true
+    k3s_cluster_state: restarted
+  roles:
+    - role: xanmanning.k3s
diff --git a/molecule/default/playbook-start-cluster.yml b/molecule/default/playbook-start-cluster.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e206333
--- /dev/null
+++ b/molecule/default/playbook-start-cluster.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+- name: Converge
+  hosts: all
+  become: true
+  vars:
+    molecule_is_test: true
+    k3s_cluster_state: started
+  roles:
+    - role: xanmanning.k3s
diff --git a/molecule/default/playbook-stop-cluster.yml b/molecule/default/playbook-stop-cluster.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..477b431
--- /dev/null
+++ b/molecule/default/playbook-stop-cluster.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+- name: Converge
+  hosts: all
+  become: true
+  vars:
+    molecule_is_test: true
+    k3s_cluster_state: stopped
+  roles:
+    - role: xanmanning.k3s
diff --git a/tasks/configure-k3s-cluster.yml b/tasks/build/configure-k3s-cluster.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/configure-k3s-cluster.yml
rename to tasks/build/configure-k3s-cluster.yml
diff --git a/tasks/download-k3s.yml b/tasks/build/download-k3s.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/download-k3s.yml
rename to tasks/build/download-k3s.yml
diff --git a/tasks/get-version.yml b/tasks/build/get-version.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/get-version.yml
rename to tasks/build/get-version.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-amazon.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-amazon.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-amazon.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-amazon.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-opensuse-leap.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-opensuse-leap.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-opensuse-leap.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-opensuse-leap.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-debian.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-debian.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-debian.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-debian.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-redhat.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-redhat.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-redhat.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-redhat.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-suse.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-suse.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-prerequisites-suse.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-prerequisites-suse.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker-suse.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker-suse.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker-suse.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker-suse.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-docker.yml b/tasks/build/install-docker.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-docker.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-docker.yml
diff --git a/tasks/install-k3s.yml b/tasks/build/install-k3s.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from tasks/install-k3s.yml
rename to tasks/build/install-k3s.yml
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 4135545..9a81157 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,27 +1,11 @@
 ---
 
-- import_tasks: preconfigure-k3s.yml
+- name: Check to see if k3s_cluster_state is a supported value
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - k3s_cluster_state in ['installed', 'started', 'stopped', 'restarted']
+    fail_msg: "k3s_cluster_state not valid. Check README.md for details."
+    success_msg: "k3s_cluster_state is valid."
+  when: k3s_cluster_state is defined
 
-- include_tasks: install-docker-prerequisites-{{ ansible_os_family | lower }}.yml
-  when: k3s_use_docker
-        and ((k3s_control_workers)
-             or (not k3s_control_workers and not k3s_control_node))
-
-- import_tasks: install-docker.yml
-  when: k3s_use_docker
-        and ((k3s_control_workers)
-           or (not k3s_control_workers and not k3s_control_node))
-        and ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower not in ['amazon', 'suse', 'opensuse-leap']
-
-- include_tasks: install-docker-{{ ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower }}.yml
-  when: ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower in ['amazon', 'suse', 'opensuse-leap']
-
-- import_tasks: get-version.yml
-  when: k3s_release_version is not defined or not k3s_release_version
-
-- import_tasks: download-k3s.yml
-
-- import_tasks: install-k3s.yml
-
-- import_tasks: configure-k3s-cluster.yml
-  when: play_hosts | length > 1
+- import_tasks: state-{{ (k3s_cluster_state | lower) | default('installed') }}.yml
diff --git a/tasks/operate/start-k3s.yml b/tasks/operate/start-k3s.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a7d9d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/operate/start-k3s.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+
+- name: Ensure k3s service is started
+  service:
+    name: k3s
+    state: started
+    enabled: true
diff --git a/tasks/operate/stop-k3s.yml b/tasks/operate/stop-k3s.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8da7c32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/operate/stop-k3s.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+
+- name: Ensure k3s service is stopped
+  service:
+    name: k3s
+    state: stopped
+    enabled: false
diff --git a/tasks/state-installed.yml b/tasks/state-installed.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e81ee11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/state-installed.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+
+- import_tasks: preconfigure-k3s.yml
+
+- include_tasks: build/install-docker-prerequisites-{{ ansible_os_family | lower }}.yml
+  when: k3s_use_docker
+        and ((k3s_control_workers)
+             or (not k3s_control_workers and not k3s_control_node))
+
+- import_tasks: build/install-docker.yml
+  when: k3s_use_docker
+        and ((k3s_control_workers)
+           or (not k3s_control_workers and not k3s_control_node))
+        and ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower not in ['amazon', 'suse', 'opensuse-leap']
+
+- include_tasks: build/install-docker-{{ ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower }}.yml
+  when: ansible_distribution | replace(" ", "-") | lower in ['amazon', 'suse', 'opensuse-leap']
+
+- import_tasks: build/get-version.yml
+  when: k3s_release_version is not defined or not k3s_release_version
+
+- import_tasks: build/download-k3s.yml
+
+- import_tasks: build/install-k3s.yml
+
+- import_tasks: build/configure-k3s-cluster.yml
+  when: play_hosts | length > 1
diff --git a/tasks/state-restarted.yml b/tasks/state-restarted.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aaa5d76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/state-restarted.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+
+- import_tasks: operate/stop-k3s.yml
+- import_tasks: operate/start-k3s.yml
diff --git a/tasks/state-started.yml b/tasks/state-started.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5441988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/state-started.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+
+- import_tasks: operate/start-k3s.yml
diff --git a/tasks/state-stopped.yml b/tasks/state-stopped.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af1e1bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/state-stopped.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+
+- import_tasks: operate/stop-k3s.yml