diff --git a/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml b/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
index 0c4747f78a..79f3dc1c9c 100644
--- a/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
+++ b/playbooks/vhost-reboot.yml
@@ -55,4 +55,4 @@
 
   - name: should match
     action: fail msg="Not all vms listed on system returned to the same state" rc=100
-    only_if: "$vmlist' != '$newvmlist'
+    only_if: "$vmlist' != '$newvmlist'"