diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
index 327b42ee60d..99bc7dc5a08 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ def main():
                                  "If run normally this module can auto-install it." % PYTHON_APT)
         try:
             module.run_command(['apt-get', 'update'], check_rc=True)
-            module.run_command(['apt-get', 'install', PYTHON_APT, '-y', '-q'], check_rc=True)
+            module.run_command(['apt-get', 'install', '--no-install-recommends', PYTHON_APT, '-y', '-q'], check_rc=True)
             global apt, apt_pkg
             import apt
             import apt.debfile