diff --git a/tasks/configure.yml b/tasks/configure.yml
index 2604b4b..80678f6 100644
--- a/tasks/configure.yml
+++ b/tasks/configure.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@
   file: state=touch dest={{ mongodb_systemlog_path }} owner={{ mongodb_user }} group={{mongodb_user}} mode=0755
   when: logfile_stat is defined and not logfile_stat.stat.exists
 
+- name: Ensure dbpath directory
+  file:
+    path: "{{ mongodb_storage_dbpath }}"
+    state: directory
+    owner: "{{ mongodb_user }}"
+    recurse: yes
+
 - name: Configure mongodb
   template: src=mongod.conf.j2 dest=/etc/mongod.conf backup=yes owner=root group=root mode=0644
   register: config_result
diff --git a/tasks/install.deb.yml b/tasks/install.deb.yml
index ddd6e4c..fc7ed64 100644
--- a/tasks/install.deb.yml
+++ b/tasks/install.deb.yml
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@
     - "{{mongodb_package}}"
     - numactl
 
-- name: Ensure dbpath directory
-  file: path={{mongodb_storage_dbpath}} state=directory owner=mongodb recurse=yes
-
 - name: reload systemd
   shell: systemctl daemon-reload
   changed_when: false