diff --git a/tasks/java.yml b/tasks/java.yml
index 380481d..c0c63b8 100644
--- a/tasks/java.yml
+++ b/tasks/java.yml
@@ -18,12 +18,13 @@
   apt: name={{ java }} state={{java_state}}
   when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
 
-- command: java -version 2>&1 | grep OpenJDK
+- shell: java -version 2>&1 | grep OpenJDK
   register: open_jdk
+  ignore_errors: yes
   changed_when: false
 
 #https://github.com/docker-library/openjdk/issues/19 - ensures tests pass due to java 8 broken certs
 - name: refresh the java ca-certificates
   command: /var/lib/dpkg/info/ca-certificates-java.postinst configure
   when: ansible_distribution == 'Ubuntu' and open_jdk.rc == 0
-  changed_when: false
\ No newline at end of file
+  changed_when: false