diff --git a/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml b/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
index 4b587231cd..52251a061c 100644
--- a/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/beaker/virthost/tasks/main.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
   with_items: clients
 
 - name: ensure vms are defined
-  virt: command=define name={{ item.hostname }} xml=/root/{{ item.hostname }}.libvirt.xml
+  command: "virsh define --file /root/{{ item.hostname }}.libvirt.xml"
   when: item.hostname not in result.list_vms
   with_items: clients