diff --git a/apt/tasks/hold_packages.yml b/apt/tasks/hold_packages.yml
index 3b065f13..f93c34a7 100644
--- a/apt/tasks/hold_packages.yml
+++ b/apt/tasks/hold_packages.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 - name: "hold packages (apt)"
   shell: "(dpkg -l {{ item }} 2>/dev/null | grep -q -E '^(i|h)i') && ((apt-mark showhold | grep --quiet {{ item }}) || apt-mark hold {{ item }})"
   register: apt_mark
-  changed_when: "'{{ item }} set on hold.' in apt_mark.stdout"
-  with_items: "{{ apt_hold_packages }}"
+  changed_when: "item + ' set on hold.' in apt_mark.stdout"
+  failed_when: apt_mark.rc != 0 and not apt_mark.stdout == ''
+  loop: "{{ apt_hold_packages }}"
   tags:
     - apt
 
@@ -22,15 +23,16 @@
     line: "{{ item }}"
     create: True
     state: present
-  with_items: "{{ apt_hold_packages }}"
+  loop: "{{ apt_hold_packages }}"
   tags:
     - apt
 
 - name: "unhold packages (apt)"
   shell: "(dpkg -l {{ item }} 2>/dev/null | grep -q -E '^(i|h)i') && ((apt-mark showhold | grep --quiet {{ item }}) && apt-mark unhold {{ item }})"
   register: apt_mark
-  changed_when: "'Canceled hold on {{ item }}.' in apt_mark.stdout"
-  with_items: "{{ apt_unhold_packages }}"
+  changed_when: "'Canceled hold on' + item in apt_mark.stdout"
+  failed_when: apt_mark.rc != 0 and not apt_mark.stdout = ''
+  loop: "{{ apt_unhold_packages }}"
   tags:
     - apt
 
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@
     line: "{{ item }}"
     create: True
     state: absent
-  with_items: "{{ apt_unhold_packages }}"
+  loop: "{{ apt_unhold_packages }}"
   tags:
     - apt