diff --git a/maas-setup.sh b/maas-setup.sh
index ae11638..077e388 100644
--- a/maas-setup.sh
+++ b/maas-setup.sh
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ maas admin ipranges create type=dynamic start_ip=10.10.10.200 end_ip=10.10.10.25
 maas admin vlan update $FABRIC_ID $VLAN_TAG dhcp_on=True primary_rack=$PRIMARY_RACK
 maas admin maas set-config name=upstream_dns value=8.8.8.8
 # Add LXD as a VM host for MAAS and capture the VM_HOST_ID
-VM_HOST_ID=maas admin vm-hosts create  password=password  type=lxd power_address=https://${IP_ADDRESS}:8443 \
- project=maas | jq '.id'
+VM_HOST_ID=$(maas admin vm-hosts create  password=password  type=lxd power_address=https://${IP_ADDRESS}:8443 \
+ project=maas | jq '.id')
 
 ### creating VMs for Juju controller and our "bare metal"