diff --git a/admin-users/tasks/adduser_debian.yml b/admin-users/tasks/adduser_debian.yml
index bcf24a0f..93a869cf 100644
--- a/admin-users/tasks/adduser_debian.yml
+++ b/admin-users/tasks/adduser_debian.yml
@@ -62,8 +62,9 @@
     key: "{{ user.ssh_key }}"
     state: present
 
+# we must double-escape caracters, because python
 - name: verify AllowUsers directive
-  command: "egrep '^\s+AllowUsers' /etc/ssh/sshd_config"
+  command: "egrep '^\\s+AllowUsers' /etc/ssh/sshd_config"
   changed_when: False
   failed_when: False
   register: grep_allowusers_ssh