diff --git a/nginx/tasks/nginx-virtualhosts.yml b/nginx/tasks/nginx-virtualhosts.yml
index 17d33813..1bc8a12f 100644
--- a/nginx/tasks/nginx-virtualhosts.yml
+++ b/nginx/tasks/nginx-virtualhosts.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 - block:
     - name: Create the nginx webroot if different from the default
-      file: dest={{ nginx_webroot }} mode=0755
+      file: dest={{ nginx_webroot }} state=directory mode=0755
       when: nginx_webroot != '/usr/share/nginx/html'
 
     - name: Install the nginx virtualhost files