diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/defaults/main.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/defaults/main.yml
index 98e881843..bf6326362 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/defaults/main.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_i
 matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_registry_prefix: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_registry_prefix_upstream }}"
 matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_registry_prefix_upstream: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_registry_prefix_upstream_default }}"
 matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_registry_prefix_upstream_default: "ghcr.io/"
-matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_force_pull: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image.endswith(':latest') }}"
 
 matrix_meshtastic_relay_base_path: "{{ matrix_base_data_path }}/meshtastic-relay"
 
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/setup_install.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/setup_install.yml
index 0df0ef6d8..95721f983 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/setup_install.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/setup_install.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,9 @@
 ---
 
 - name: Ensure matrix-meshtastic-relay image is pulled
-  community.docker.docker_image:
+  community.docker.docker_image_pull:
     name: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image }}"
-    source: "{{ 'pull' if ansible_version.major > 2 or ansible_version.minor > 7 else omit }}"
-    force_source: "{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_force_pull if ansible_version.major > 2 or ansible_version.minor >= 8 else omit }}"
-    force: "{{ omit if ansible_version.major > 2 or ansible_version.minor >= 8 else matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_force_pull }}"
+    pull: always
   register: matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_pull_result
   retries: "{{ devture_playbook_help_container_retries_count }}"
   delay: "{{ devture_playbook_help_container_retries_delay }}"
diff --git a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/validate_config.yml
index 80f31d47f..4b9a4bafa 100644
--- a/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/custom/matrix-bridge-meshtastic-relay/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -21,3 +21,11 @@
       `matrix_meshtastic_relay_connection_type` must be one of: `tcp`, `serial`, `ble`.
       Got: `{{ matrix_meshtastic_relay_connection_type }}`.
   when: "matrix_meshtastic_relay_connection_type not in ['tcp', 'serial', 'ble']"
+
+- name: (Deprecation) Catch and report renamed matrix-meshtastic-relay variables
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: >-
+      The variable `{{ item.old }}` is deprecated. Please use `{{ item.new }}` instead.
+  when: "lookup('ansible.builtin.varnames', ('^' + item.old + '$'), wantlist=True) | length > 0"
+  with_items:
+    - {'old': 'matrix_meshtastic_relay_container_image_force_pull', 'new': '<removed> (the new community.docker.docker_image_pull module handles this natively)'}