diff --git a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
index 68005af48f..0b5fa2993a 100644
--- a/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
+++ b/tasks/virt_instance_create.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     - armv7-kernel
 
 - name: start the vm up
-  virt: state=started name={{ inventory_hostname }}
+  virt: state=running name={{ inventory_hostname }}
   delegate_to: "{{ vmhost }}"
   when: inventory_hostname not in result.list_vms