diff --git a/roles/rkt/files/rkt-gc.sh b/roles/rkt/files/rkt-gc.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e260668cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/rkt/files/rkt-gc.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+rkt gc
diff --git a/roles/rkt/tasks/main.yml b/roles/rkt/tasks/main.yml
index d84a2165d..00f9e79c4 100644
--- a/roles/rkt/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/rkt/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 ---
-
 - name: Install rkt
   import_tasks: install.yml
   when: not ansible_os_family in ["CoreOS", "Container Linux by CoreOS"]
+
+- name: Set up cron job to do garbage cleanup
+  copy:
+    src: rkt-gc.sh
+    dest: /etc/cron.hourly/rkt-gc.sh
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: 0750
+  when: not ansible_os_family in ["CoreOS", "Container Linux by CoreOS"]