diff --git a/roles/beaker/server/tasks/main.yml b/roles/beaker/server/tasks/main.yml
index 72291eeb28..d51074b982 100644
--- a/roles/beaker/server/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/beaker/server/tasks/main.yml
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
     - beaker-server
 
 - name: ensure beaker server has all relevant virthost ssh signatures in known_hosts
-  lineinfile: dest=/root/.ssh/known_hosts regexp='{{ item.hostname }}' line='{{ item.hostname }} {{ item.signature }}' create=yes owner={{ item.user }} group={{ slaves_group }}
+  lineinfile: dest=/root/.ssh/known_hosts regexp='{{ item.hostname }}' line='{{ item.hostname }} {{ item.signature }}' create=yes owner=root group=root
   with_items:
     - '{{ beaker_virthost_signatures }}'
   tags: