diff --git a/roles/network/tasks/debian.yml b/roles/network/tasks/debian.yml
index 7845c7524..e11592a79 100644
--- a/roles/network/tasks/debian.yml
+++ b/roles/network/tasks/debian.yml
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 
 - name: restart the networking service
   service: name=networking state=restarted
-  when: interface.changed
+  when: interface.changed and not is_VM is defined
   
 - name: restart hostapd when wifi is present
   service: name=hostapd state=started