diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 8bfae615..db1132c2 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -291,6 +291,11 @@ horizon_pip_packages:
 # that could be needed for additional dashboards
 horizon_optional_pip_packages: []
 
+# This variable is used to update the horizon translations from
+# Zanata, this can be set to "True" when testing translations,
+# but should otherwise be left as False.
+horizon_translations_update: False
+
 # This variable is used by the repo_build process to determine
 # which host group to check for members of before building the
 # pip packages required by this role. The value is picked up
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/update_translations-f950283d821bba05.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/update_translations-f950283d821bba05.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..284e6ecc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/update_translations-f950283d821bba05.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+features:
+  - You can force update the translations direct
+    from Zanata by setting ``horizon_translations_update``
+    to ``True``. This will call the ``pull_catalog``
+    option built into ``horizon-manage.py``. You should
+    only use this when testing translations, otherwise
+    this should remain set to the default of ``False``.
diff --git a/tasks/horizon_translations_update.yml b/tasks/horizon_translations_update.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0af424b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/horizon_translations_update.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+# Copyright 2017, Rackspace US, Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+- name: Perform a Horizon Zanata Pull Catalog
+  command: "{{ horizon_bin }}/horizon-manage.py pull_catalog"
+  args:
+    chdir: "{{ horizon_lib_dir }}/"
+  changed_when: false
+
+- name: Perform Horizon Zanata Compile Messages
+  command: "{{ horizon_bin }}/horizon-manage.py compilemessages"
+  args:
+    chdir: "{{ horizon_lib_dir }}/{{ item }}"
+  with_items:
+    - horizon
+    - openstack_dashboard
+  tags:
+    - skip_ansible_lint
+  notify: Restart apache2
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index fb0a567c..89f908e8 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -100,5 +100,10 @@
   tags:
     - horizon-config
 
+- include: horizon_translations_update.yml
+  when: horizon_translations_update | bool
+  tags:
+    - horizon-translations-update
+
 - name: Flush handlers
   meta: flush_handlers