diff --git a/scripts/ansible b/scripts/ansible
index f192876c6..de3351d12 100755
--- a/scripts/ansible
+++ b/scripts/ansible
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 # required to start loading IIAB with ansible
 FOUND=""
 URL="NA"
+# TODO add check for version - to revese patching if upgrading
 if [ $(which ansible-playbook) ]; then
-    echo "Ansible installed exiting..."
+    VER=`ansible --version|head -n 1|cut -f 2 -d " "`
+    echo "Ansible $VER installed exiting..."
     exit 0
 fi
 echo "Installing --- Please Wait"
@@ -84,12 +86,22 @@ if [ $FAMILY = "olpc" ]; then
     echo "ansible version installed via pip $VER"
 fi
 
+# TODO add check for version to skip patching
+# APPLY TEMPORARY PATCH
+# https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/20202
+# https://github.com/iiab/iiab/issues/249
+if [ $FAMILY != "redhat" ]; then
+    echo "Patching..."
+    sed -i 's/StrictVersion/LooseVersion/g' /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/ansible/modules/core/web_infrastructure/htpasswd.py
+fi
+VER=`ansible --version|head -n 1|cut -f 2 -d " "`
+echo "ansible version installed via package manager $VER"
+
+# sample only
 #if [ $FAMILY = "debian" ]; then
 #   rpm -e ansible
 #   pip install ansible==2.2.1 --disable-pip-version-check
 #fi
-VER=`ansible --version|head -n 1|cut -f 2 -d " "`
-echo "ansible version installed via package manager $VER"
 
 #if [ $FAMILY = "debian" ]; then
 #    echo 'WARN: Trying to install ansible via pip without some dependencies'