diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/main.yml b/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
index ca182bf..9722793 100644
--- a/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 ---
 
+# ported from top-level play because it stopped working around Ansible 2.4.0.0
+- name: Import OS-specific variables
+  include_vars: "vars/{{ ansible_os_family }}.yml"
+  tags: always
+
 - name: Configure network time
   import_tasks: ntp.yml
   tags: ntp
diff --git a/web.yml b/web.yml
index 5f4ab2b..c73ebb6 100644
--- a/web.yml
+++ b/web.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,5 @@
     - { role: munin, when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian' }
   vars_files:
     - vars/ipsets.yml
-    - "vars/{{ ansible_os_family }}.yml"
 
 # vim: set sw=2 ts=2: