diff --git a/etc/kayobe/ansible/smartmon-tools.yml b/etc/kayobe/ansible/smartmon-tools.yml
index bb5cf5dca..b4a064b63 100644
--- a/etc/kayobe/ansible/smartmon-tools.yml
+++ b/etc/kayobe/ansible/smartmon-tools.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@
         state: present
       become: true
 
+    - name: Ensure the cron/crond service is running
+      service:
+        name: "{{ 'cron' if ansible_facts['distribution'] == 'Ubuntu' else 'crond' }}"
+        state: started
+        enabled: true
+      become: true
+
     - name: Copy smartmon.sh and nvmemon.sh from scripts folder
       copy:
         src: "scripts/{{ item }}"
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/smartmontools-bc8176f45d58a75d.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/smartmontools-bc8176f45d58a75d.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ac3451347
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/smartmontools-bc8176f45d58a75d.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+features:
+  - |
+    The smartmon-tools playbook now ensures that the cron service is running as
+    in some cases it may not be running by default.
+