diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 34a0ebf..851baee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ Here is a deeper insight into the variables of this gitea role. For the exact fu
 | ------------- | ------------- | ----------- |
 | `gitea_version` | *(see [defaults/main.yml](defaults/main.yml#L3))* | The gitea version this role shoud install |
 | `gitea_version_check` | `true` | Check if installed version != `gitea_version` before initiating binary download |
-| `gitea_dl_url` | *(see [defaults/main.yml](defaults/main.yml#L5))* | The path from where this role downloads the gitea binary |
 | `gitea_gpg_key` | `7C9E68152594688862D62AF62D9AE806EC1592E2` | the gpg key the gitea binary is signed with |
 | `gitea_gpg_server` | `hkps://keys.openpgp.org` | A gpg key server where this role can download the gpg key |
 | `gitea_backup_on_upgrade` | `false` | Optionally a backup can be created with every update of gitea. |
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index af7f080..00cff7c 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 ---
 # gitea version
+# Use 'latest' to auto-update; upgrading past role version may lead to errors.
 gitea_version: '1.14.4'
 gitea_version_check: true
-gitea_dl_url: "https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/download/v{{ gitea_version }}/gitea-{{ gitea_version }}-linux-{{ gitea_arch }}"
 gitea_gpg_key: '7C9E68152594688862D62AF62D9AE806EC1592E2'
 gitea_gpg_server: 'hkps://keys.openpgp.org'
 gitea_backup_on_upgrade: false
diff --git a/tasks/backup.yml b/tasks/backup.yml
index 5bbf374..93c67f9 100644
--- a/tasks/backup.yml
+++ b/tasks/backup.yml
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@
   when:
     - ansible_facts.services["gitea.service"] is defined
     - ansible_facts.services["gitea.service"].state == "running"
-    - gitea_active_version.stdout != gitea_version
+    - gitea_active_version.stdout != gitea_version_target
diff --git a/tasks/install.yml b/tasks/install.yml
index 03d1836..ef325f8 100644
--- a/tasks/install.yml
+++ b/tasks/install.yml
@@ -71,4 +71,4 @@
         owner: root
         group: root
       notify: "Restart gitea"
-  when: (not gitea_version_check|bool) or (not ansible_check_mode and (gitea_active_version.stdout != gitea_version))
+  when: (not gitea_version_check|bool) or (not ansible_check_mode and (gitea_active_version.stdout != gitea_version_target))
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 5a96d87..097818f 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -10,14 +10,8 @@
 - name: Gather variables for each operating system
   ansible.builtin.include_vars: "{{ lookup('first_found', gitea_variables) }}"
 
-- name: "Check gitea version"
-  ansible.builtin.shell: "set -eo pipefail; /usr/local/bin/gitea -v | cut -d' ' -f 3"
-  args:
-    executable: /bin/bash
-  register: gitea_active_version
-  changed_when: false
-  failed_when: false
-  when: gitea_version_check|bool
+- name: Gather versioning information
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: set_version.yml
 
 - name: backup gitea before update
   ansible.builtin.include_tasks: backup.yml
diff --git a/tasks/set_version.yml b/tasks/set_version.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..297199c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/set_version.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+---
+- name: "Check gitea installed version"
+  ansible.builtin.shell: "set -eo pipefail; /usr/local/bin/gitea -v | cut -d' ' -f 3"
+  args:
+    executable: /bin/bash
+  register: gitea_active_version
+  changed_when: false
+  failed_when: false
+
+- name: "Determine 'latest' version release"
+  block:
+    - name: "Get latest gitea release metadata"
+      ansible.builtin.uri:
+        url: https://api.github.com/repos/go-gitea/gitea/releases/latest
+        return_content: true
+      register: gitea_remote_metadata
+ 
+    - name: "Set fact latest gitea release"
+      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+        gitea_remote_version: "{{ gitea_remote_metadata.json.tag_name[1:] }}"
+ 
+    - name: "Set gitea version target (latest)"
+      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+        gitea_version_target: "{{ gitea_remote_version }}"
+  when: gitea_version == "latest"
+
+- name: "Set gitea version target ({{ gitea_version }})"
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    gitea_version_target: "{{ gitea_version }}"
+  when: gitea_version != "latest"
+
+- name: "Generate gitea download URL"
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    gitea_dl_url: "https://github.com/go-gitea/gitea/releases/download/v{{ gitea_version_target }}/gitea-{{ gitea_version_target }}-linux-{{ gitea_arch }}"