diff --git a/files/cloud-init/base.yml b/files/cloud-init/base.yml
index 600269079..b5398613f 100644
--- a/files/cloud-init/base.yml
+++ b/files/cloud-init/base.yml
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ users:
     shell: /bin/bash
     lock_passwd: true
     ssh_authorized_keys:
-      - "{{ lookup('file', SSH_keys.public) }}"
+      - "{{ lookup('file', SSH_keys.public) | string }}"
 
 write_files:
   - path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
     content: |
-{{ lookup('template', 'files/cloud-init/sshd_config') | indent(width=6, first=True) }}
+{{ lookup('template', 'files/cloud-init/sshd_config') | string | indent(width=6, first=True) }}
 
 runcmd:
   - set -x
diff --git a/roles/cloud-vultr/tasks/main.yml b/roles/cloud-vultr/tasks/main.yml
index ccbcd13b6..c49bb6b5d 100644
--- a/roles/cloud-vultr/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/cloud-vultr/tasks/main.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
   import_tasks: prompts.yml
 
 - block:
+    - name: Set cloud-init script as fact
+      set_fact:
+        algo_cloud_init_script: "{{ lookup('template', 'files/cloud-init/base.yml') }}"
+
     - name: Creating a firewall group
       vultr.cloud.firewall_group:
         name: "{{ algo_server_name }}"
@@ -28,8 +32,7 @@
     - name: Upload the startup script
       vultr.cloud.startup_script:
         name: algo-startup
-        script: |
-          {{ lookup('template', 'files/cloud-init/base.yml') }}
+        script: "{{ algo_cloud_init_script }}"
 
     - name: Creating a server
       vultr.cloud.instance: