diff --git a/playbooks/vhost_update.yml b/playbooks/vhost_update.yml
index 86f3605f00..91d7d4005b 100644
--- a/playbooks/vhost_update.yml
+++ b/playbooks/vhost_update.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
   user: root
 
   tasks:
+
   - name: Apply updates
     package:
         state: latest
@@ -49,6 +50,23 @@
         update_cache: true
     async: 7200
     poll: 30
+  
+  - debug:
+        msg: 
+        - '!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! host {{ inventory_hostname }} has EXCLUDES OF {{ package_excludes }} !!!!!!!!!!!!!'
+        - '!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DANGER DANGER DANGER ^ CHECK THAT EXCLUDES ARE STILL NEEDED ^ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
+    when: package_excludes is defined
+    changed_when: true
+  
+  - name: Apply updates with excludes
+    package:
+        state: latest
+        name: "*"
+        update_cache: true
+        exclude: "{{ package_excludes }}"
+    async: 7200
+    poll: 30
+    when: package_excludes is defined
 
 - name: run rkhunter if installed
   hosts:  "{{ target }}:myvms_new"