diff --git a/roles/copr/backend/templates/copr-be.conf.j2 b/roles/copr/backend/templates/copr-be.conf.j2
index c2f834db04..44a9c29a8b 100644
--- a/roles/copr/backend/templates/copr-be.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/copr/backend/templates/copr-be.conf.j2
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ group0_spawn_playbook=/home/copr/provision/builderpb_nova.yml
 group0_terminate_playbook=/home/copr/provision/terminatepb_nova.yml
 group0_max_workers=4
 
+# soon this will be obsoleted
+terminate_vars=vm_name
 
 # directory where jobs are stored
 # no defaults