diff --git a/group_vars/servers.yml b/group_vars/servers.yml
index 80e98de..9756f4a 100644
--- a/group_vars/servers.yml
+++ b/group_vars/servers.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ desired_docker_images:
 
 portainer_endpoint: -1
 portainer_base_url: "http://qnap:9000"
-external_docker_networks: []
 portainer_required_files: []
 restart_policy: unless-stopped
 backup_labels:
diff --git a/host_vars/qnap.yml b/host_vars/qnap.yml
index b741513..fd0ec48 100644
--- a/host_vars/qnap.yml
+++ b/host_vars/qnap.yml
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ devices:
   - uuid: c528bf82-61ab-4f3d-87e0-d1e6e02ef7ec     # /dev/sdf
     path: /mnt/ssd0/
 
-# docker networks to be created before portainer stacks are created.
-external_docker_networks:
-  - mariadb_net
-
 ansible_pull_path: /home/{{ homelab_user }}/.local/bin/ansible-pull
 
 portainer_required_files:
diff --git a/roles/setup_hosted_services/tasks/main.yml b/roles/setup_hosted_services/tasks/main.yml
index 0549079..3d2b23b 100644
--- a/roles/setup_hosted_services/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/setup_hosted_services/tasks/main.yml
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@
     loop_var: file_item
   notify: "{{ file_item.handler }}"
 
-- name: Create external docker networks.
-  docker_network:
-    name: '{{ item }}'
-  with_items: '{{ external_docker_networks }}'
-
 - name: Deploy Portainer stacks.
   ansible.builtin.include_role:
     name: deploy_portainer_stack