diff --git a/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml b/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
index 3af21db7..bee89084 100644
--- a/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
+++ b/tests/image_prep/_user_accounts.yml
@@ -111,7 +111,11 @@
         state: restarted
 
     - name: Readonly homedir for one account
-      shell: "chown -R root: ~mitogen__readonly_homedir"
+      file:
+        path: ~mitogen__readonly_homedir
+        owner: root
+        recurse: true
+        state: directory
 
     - name: Slow bash profile for one account
       copy: