diff --git a/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml b/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
index 4fffe801c..cd997318c 100644
--- a/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
+++ b/netsim/ansible/tasks/readiness-check/vm-clab-ssh-check.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   local_action:
     module: shell
     cmd: which sshpass
+  changed_when: False
   run_once: True
   any_errors_fatal: True
 
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
       ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no {{ netlab_ssh_args|default('') }} \
           -o UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null {{ ansible_user }}@{{ ansible_host }} \
           '{{ netlab_check_command | default("show version") }}'
+  changed_when: False
   register: command_out
   until: command_out.rc == 0
   retries: "{{ netlab_check_retries | default(20) }}"