diff --git a/tests/pre.yml b/tests/pre.yml
index 89e6883..e9e234d 100644
--- a/tests/pre.yml
+++ b/tests/pre.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 - name: pre | install dependencies
   apt:
     name: "{{ item }}"
-    state: latest
+    state: "{{ apt_install_state | default('latest') }}"
     update_cache: true
     cache_valid_time: "{{ apt_update_cache_valid_time | default(3600) }}"
   with_items:
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     - curl
 
 - name: pre | install setuptools
-  shell: "curl -sL https://bootstrap.pypa.io/ez_setup.py | python -"
+  shell: curl -sL https://bootstrap.pypa.io/ez_setup.py | python -
   changed_when: false
 
 - name: pre | install pip