diff --git a/playbooks/koji/make_builder.yml b/playbooks/koji/make_builder.yml
index f25a391cfa..c05d061090 100644
--- a/playbooks/koji/make_builder.yml
+++ b/playbooks/koji/make_builder.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   tasks:
   - include: $tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
   - name: ping the host
-    ping: msg="pingy"
+    action: ping
   
   # include postinstall playbook
 #- include: /srv/web/infra/ansible/playbooks/koji/config_builder.yml
diff --git a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
index 1dbdfd2db2..edff3c93d5 100644
--- a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
+++ b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 # setup a virt instance using a dizzying array of variables :)
+# FIXME
+# do an action here that aborts if a bunch of vars are not set
+
 - name: get vm list on the vmhost
   delegate_to: $vmhost
   virt: command=list_vms