diff --git a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
index 81698eeec4..aceba057f6 100644
--- a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
+++ b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
@@ -3,35 +3,35 @@
 # do an action here that aborts if a bunch of vars are not set
 
 - name: get vm list on the vmhost
-  delegate_to: $vmhost
+  delegate_to: vmhost
   virt: command=list_vms
   register: result
 
 - name: ensure the lv for the host is made
-  lvol: lv=$inventory_hostname vg=$volgroup size=$lvm_size state=present
-  delegate_to: $vmhost
+  lvol: lv={{ inventory_hostname }} vg={{ volgroup }} size={{ lvm_size }} state=present
+  delegate_to: vmhost
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms
 
 - name: run the virt-install
-  shell: ${virt_install_command}
-  delegate_to: $vmhost
+  shell: "{{ virt_install_command }}"
+  delegate_to: vmhost
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms
 
 - name: wait for the install to finish - by watching the domstate
   # this just keeps checking the domstate until it stops running
-  shell: while `/usr/bin/virsh domstate ${inventory_hostname} | grep -q running` ; do sleep 20; done
-  delegate_to: $vmhost
+  shell: while `/usr/bin/virsh domstate {{ inventory_hostname }} | grep -q running` ; do sleep 20; done
+  delegate_to: vmhost
   async: 1200
   poll: 10
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms
 
 - name: start the vm up
-  action: virt state=running name=${inventory_hostname}
-  delegate_to: $vmhost
+  action: virt state=running name={{ inventory_hostname }}
+  delegate_to: vmhost
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms
 
 - name: wait for ssh on the vm to start back
-  local_action: wait_for delay=10 host=${inventory_hostname} port=22 state=started timeout=1200
+  local_action: wait_for delay=10 host={{ inventory_hostname }} port=22 state=started timeout=1200
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms