diff --git a/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml b/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
index c1807c963e..ed89a80a85 100644
--- a/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
   template:
     src: client-libvirt.xml.j2
     dest: /root/{{ item }}.libvirt.xml
-    vmhostname: {{ clients[item]['hostname'] }}
-    vmmacaddress: {{ clients[item]['macaddress'] }}
+    vmhostname: "{{ clients[item]['hostname'] }}"
+    vmmacaddress: "{{ clients[item]['macaddress'] }}"
   with_items:
     - "virt02"
     - "virt03"