# \--start-at-task - not working with roles or do I get the syntax wrong?

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/start-at-task-not-working-with-roles-or-do-i-get-the-syntax-wrong/36039>\
**Category:** Ansible Project\
**Created:** [November 29, 2021, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/start-at-task-not-working-with-roles-or-do-i-get-the-syntax-wrong/36039 "2021-11-29T09:50:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dulhaver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/dulhaver/32/1061_2.png) [@dulhaver](https://forum.ansible.com/u/dulhaver)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/start-at-task-not-working-with-roles-or-do-i-get-the-syntax-wrong/36039/1 "2021-11-29T09:50:48Z")

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hy everybody,

I am trying a barman installation via Ansible which makes use of 4 roles.

Now I want to skip most of the tasks and utilize --start.at-task “name of a task”. I am running into a ‘task not found’ error.

I tried variants like --start.at-task “role name”/“name ot a task” without any luck.

So, do I get the syntax wrong or is there any secret sauce needed when working in a role based scenario, or is --start-at-task simply not made for roles?

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**Author:** ![Dick\_Visser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@Dick\_Visser](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dick_Visser)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2021, 10:00am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/start-at-task-not-working-with-roles-or-do-i-get-the-syntax-wrong/36039/2 "2021-11-29T10:00:16Z")

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I have not heard of that option before, but in any case, the docs on it ([https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user\_guide/playbooks\_startnstep.html#start-at-task](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user_guide/playbooks_startnstep.html#start-at-task)) state:

> This feature does not work with tasks inside dynamically re-used roles or tasks

Also it uses dashed “–start-at-task” instead of what you use “–start.at-task” (dot)