diff --git a/roles/fedmsg/gateway/slave/tasks/main.yml b/roles/fedmsg/gateway/slave/tasks/main.yml
index 47b0c9b79c..a9f55669b2 100644
--- a/roles/fedmsg/gateway/slave/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/fedmsg/gateway/slave/tasks/main.yml
@@ -103,12 +103,11 @@
   - fedmsg/gateway/slave
 
 - name: ensure that nrpe has rights to monitor us
-  file: >
-    dest=/var/run/fedmsg/monitoring-fedmsg-gateway.socket
-    mode=0775
-    owner=fedmsg
-    group=nrpe
-    state=file
+  user: >
+    name=nrpe
+    append=yes
+    groups=
+    - fedmsg
   ignore_errors: true
   tags:
   - fedmsgmonitor