diff --git a/playbooks/groups/notifs-backend.yml b/playbooks/groups/notifs-backend.yml
index 24f1ec3065..a49467525a 100644
--- a/playbooks/groups/notifs-backend.yml
+++ b/playbooks/groups/notifs-backend.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 # NOTE: make sure there is room/space for this server on the vmhost
 # NOTE: most of these vars_path come from group_vars/mirrorlist or from hostvars
 
-- import_playbook: "/srv/web/infra/ansible/playbooks/include/virt-create.yml myhosts=notifs_backend:notifs_backend_stg"
+- import_playbook: "/srv/web/infra/ansible/playbooks/include/virt-create.yml"
+  vars:
+    myhosts: "notifs_backend:notifs_backend_stg"
 
 - name: dole out the generic configuration
   hosts: notifs_backend:notifs_backend_stg
diff --git a/playbooks/groups/notifs-web.yml b/playbooks/groups/notifs-web.yml
index 14e97c09ce..73bf73a4ae 100644
--- a/playbooks/groups/notifs-web.yml
+++ b/playbooks/groups/notifs-web.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 # NOTE: make sure there is room/space for this server on the vmhost
 # NOTE: most of these vars_path come from group_vars/notifs-web* or from hostvars
 
-- import_playbook: "/srv/web/infra/ansible/playbooks/include/virt-create.yml myhosts=notifs_web:notifs_web_stg"
+- import_playbook: "/srv/web/infra/ansible/playbooks/include/virt-create.yml"
+  vars:
+    myhosts: "notifs_backend:notifs_backend_stg"
 
 - name: make the box be real
   hosts: notifs_web:notifs_web_stg