diff --git a/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml b/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
index 34fd366c03..9963f1140b 100644
--- a/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
+++ b/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
   - name: add them to a bogus group
     local_action: add_host hostname=$item groupname=myvms_new
-    with_items: $vmlist.list_vms
+    with_items: ${vmlist.list_vms}
 
 
 - name: halt instances