diff --git a/ansible/roles/install/tasks/debian.yml b/ansible/roles/install/tasks/debian.yml
index c2526b1e8..1eab8bf1e 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/install/tasks/debian.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/install/tasks/debian.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
   when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
   apt: pkg={{item}}
   with_items:
-  - python-minimal
   - unzip
   - jq
   - "{{service}}"
diff --git a/ansible/ubuntu16-patch.yml b/ansible/ubuntu16-patch.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9070a484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/ubuntu16-patch.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+#Ubuntu 16.04 is not installing the python package in the standard installation on DigitalOcean. This "patch" will install it so the rest of the ansible playbooks can work properly.
+
+- hosts: "{{ lookup('env','TF_VAR_TESTNET_NAME') }}"
+  gather_facts: no
+  tasks:
+  - raw: test -e /usr/bin/python || (apt -y update && apt install -y python-minimal)
+