diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 3a2bb14..e74c2ca 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,14 @@ restic_archiver__keep_weekly: 8
 restic_archiver__keep_monthly: 16
 restic_archiver__keep_yearly: 12
 
+restic_archiver__archive_keep: 5
+restic_archiver__archive_keep_hourly: 16
+restic_archiver__archive_keep_daily: 14
+restic_archiver__archive_keep_weekly: 8
+restic_archiver__archive_keep_monthly: 16
+restic_archiver__archive_keep_yearly: 12
+
+
 # owner and user of all restic stuff
 restic_archiver__owner: 'root'
 restic_archiver__group: 'root'
diff --git a/templates/includes/repo_todos.sh.j2 b/templates/includes/repo_todos.sh.j2
index e1bda1a..b6e4c8d 100644
--- a/templates/includes/repo_todos.sh.j2
+++ b/templates/includes/repo_todos.sh.j2
@@ -41,6 +41,44 @@
   --prune {% endif %}
 {%- endmacro %}
 
+{% macro retention_archive_pattern(repo) -%}
+  {% if repo.keep_last is defined and repo.archive_keep_last != None -%}
+      --keep-last {{ repo.archive_keep_last }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-last {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep }}
+    {%- endif %} \
+  {% if repo.keep_hourly is defined and repo.archive_keep_hourly != None -%}
+      --keep-hourly {{ repo.archive_keep_hourly }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-hourly {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep_hourly }}
+    {%- endif %} \
+  {% if repo.keep_daily is defined and repo.archive_keep_daily != None -%}
+      --keep-daily {{ repo.archive_keep_daily }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-daily {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep_daily }}
+    {%- endif %} \
+  {% if repo.keep_weekly is defined and repo.archive_keep_weekly != None -%}
+      --keep-weekly {{ repo.archive_keep_weekly }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-weekly {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep_weekly }}
+    {%- endif %} \
+  {% if repo.keep_monthly is defined and repo.archive_keep_monthly != None -%}
+      --keep-monthly {{ repo.archive_keep_monthly }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-monthly {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep_monthly }}
+      {%- endif %} \
+  {% if repo.keep_yearly is defined and repo.archive_keep_yearly != None -%}
+      --keep-yearly {{ repo.archive_keep_yearly }}
+    {%- else -%}
+      --keep-yearly {{ restic_archiver__archive_keep_yearly }}
+    {%- endif -%}
+  {% if repo.keep_within is defined and repo.archive_keep_within != None %} \
+    --keep-within {{ repo.archive_keep_within }} {% endif -%}
+  {%- if repo.prune|default(restic_archiver__prune) %} \
+  --prune {% endif %}
+{%- endmacro %}
+
+
 {#
 START DOING STUFF INSIDE THE RESTIC REPO FOR LOOP
 #}
@@ -137,7 +175,7 @@ EOT
   export RESTIC_PASSWORD='{{ repo['archive_password'] | regex_replace('\'', '\'\\\'\'') }}' 2>/dev/null
   BACKUP_NAME="{{ repo.name }}_archive"
 
-  restic {{ restic_archiver__default_opt }} forget {{ retention_pattern(repo) }}
+  restic {{ restic_archiver__default_opt }} forget {{ retention_archive_pattern(repo) }}
   {%- if repo.prune|default(restic_archiver__prune) %}
   restic {{ restic_archiver__default_opt }} prune
   echo "restic ARCHIVE prune done"
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index af43dec..89ac0ad 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 ---
-playbook_version_number: 51  # should be int
+playbook_version_number: 52  # should be int
 playbook_version_path: 'role-restic_archiver_roles-ansible_github.com.version'