diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc061a2..2740c36 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ The MySQL databases to create. A database has the values `name`, `encoding` (def
 
     mysql_users: []
 
-The MySQL users and their privileges. A user has the values `name`, `host` (defaults to `localhost`), `password`, `priv` (defaults to `*.*:USAGE`), and `append_privs` (defaults to `no`). The formats of these are the same as in the `mysql_user` module.
+The MySQL users and their privileges. A user has the values `name`, `host` (defaults to `localhost`), `password`, `priv` (defaults to `*.*:USAGE`), `append_privs` (defaults to `no`),  `state`  (defaults to `present`). The formats of these are the same as in the `mysql_user` module.
 
     mysql_packages:
       - mysql
diff --git a/tasks/users.yml b/tasks/users.yml
index b94deef..6c41ce7 100644
--- a/tasks/users.yml
+++ b/tasks/users.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     host: "{{ item.host | default('localhost') }}"
     password: "{{ item.password }}"
     priv: "{{ item.priv | default('*.*:USAGE') }}"
-    state: present
+    state: "{{ item.state | default('present') }}"
     append_privs: "{{ item.append_privs | default('no') }}"
   with_items: "{{ mysql_users }}"
   no_log: true