diff --git a/roles/taskotron/grokmirror/tasks/main.yml b/roles/taskotron/grokmirror/tasks/main.yml
index 694bbff778..d4457839fb 100644
--- a/roles/taskotron/grokmirror/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/taskotron/grokmirror/tasks/main.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 - name: clone initial git repos
   git: repo={{ item.url }} bare=yes dest={{ grokmirror_basedir }}/{{ item.name }} update=no
+  sudo: true
   sudo_user: "{{ grokmirror_user }}"
   with_items: grokmirror_repos