diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/system.yml b/roles/common/tasks/system.yml
index c2057c0..28c23b4 100644
--- a/roles/common/tasks/system.yml
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/system.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 - name: configure hostname
   ansible.builtin.hostname: name={{ inventory_hostname }}
 - name: ensure loopback name
-  ansible.builtin.lineinfile: path=/etc/hosts line="127.0.0.1 {{ inventory_hostname }}"
+  ansible.builtin.lineinfile: path=/etc/hosts state=absent line="127.0.0.1 {{ inventory_hostname }}"
 - name: configure timezone
   timezone: name=America/Chicago
   notify: restart cron