diff --git a/tasks/aws_cloud.yml b/tasks/aws_cloud.yml
index d773aad572..ad12dd1a07 100644
--- a/tasks/aws_cloud.yml
+++ b/tasks/aws_cloud.yml
@@ -140,3 +140,8 @@
 
 - name: Include SSH config
   import_role: name=basessh
+
+# we need this to allow initial postfix service start
+- name: setup a temporary hostname
+  hostname: name={{ inventory_hostname }}
+  when: birthday is defined