diff --git a/roles/docker-ldap/tasks/main.yml b/roles/docker-ldap/tasks/main.yml
index 6b886065..9f56e323 100644
--- a/roles/docker-ldap/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/docker-ldap/tasks/main.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@
     state: absent
   when: not applications.ldap.openldap.expose_to_internet | bool
 
+- name: create docker network for LDAP, so that other applications can access it
+  docker_network:
+    name: central_ldap
+    state: present
+
 - name: "create {{docker_compose.files.docker_compose}}"
   template:
     src:	"docker-compose.yml.j2"
diff --git a/roles/docker-ldap/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2 b/roles/docker-ldap/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
index 6c04ea84..1cacc6ba 100644
--- a/roles/docker-ldap/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/docker-ldap/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ services:
     image: bitnami/openldap:{{applications.ldap.openldap.version}}
     container_name: openldap
 {% include 'roles/docker-compose/templates/services/base.yml.j2' %}
+{% if applications.ldap.openldap.expose_to_internet | bool %}
     ports:
       - 127.0.0.1:{{ldap_localhost_port}}:{{ldap_localhost_port}}               # Expose just on localhost so that nginx stream proxy can use it
       - 127.0.0.1:{{ldap_secure_localhost_port}}:{{ldap_secure_localhost_port}} # Expose just on localhost
+{% endif %}
     volumes:
       - 'data:/bitnami/openldap'
     healthcheck:
diff --git a/templates/docker/compose/networks.yml.j2 b/templates/docker/compose/networks.yml.j2
index 13bb4abf..3f4a3dc7 100644
--- a/templates/docker/compose/networks.yml.j2
+++ b/templates/docker/compose/networks.yml.j2
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ networks:
   central_{{ database_type }}:
     external: true
 {% endif %}
-{% if ldap_network_enabled %}
+{% if ldap_network_enabled | bool %}
   central_ldap:
+    external: true
 {% endif %}
   default:
 {% if application_id in networks.local and networks.local[application_id].subnet is defined %}
diff --git a/templates/docker/container/networks.yml.j2 b/templates/docker/container/networks.yml.j2
index 3e0b926a..0d5b5230 100644
--- a/templates/docker/container/networks.yml.j2
+++ b/templates/docker/container/networks.yml.j2
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 {% if enable_central_database | bool and database_type is defined %}
       central_{{ database_type }}:
 {% endif %}
-{% if ldap_network_enabled %}
+{% if ldap_network_enabled | bool %}
       central_ldap:
 {% endif %}
       default: