diff --git a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
index 164340098..449306a92 100644
--- a/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
+++ b/apps/terminal/automations/deploy_applet_host/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from common.db.utils import safe_db_connection
-from common.utils import get_logger
+from common.utils import get_logger, random_string
 from ops.ansible import PlaybookRunner, JMSInventory
 from terminal.models import Applet, AppletHostDeployment
 
@@ -58,13 +58,15 @@ class DeployAppletHostManager:
         download_host = download_host.rstrip("/")
 
         def handler(plays):
+            applet_host_name = self.deployment.host.name
+            hostname = '{}-{}'.format(applet_host_name, random_string(7))
             for play in plays:
                 play["vars"].update(options)
                 play["vars"]["APPLET_DOWNLOAD_HOST"] = download_host
                 play["vars"]["CORE_HOST"] = core_host
                 play["vars"]["BOOTSTRAP_TOKEN"] = bootstrap_token
                 play["vars"]["HOST_ID"] = host_id
-                play["vars"]["HOST_NAME"] = self.deployment.host.name
+                play["vars"]["HOST_NAME"] = hostname
             return plays
 
         return self._generate_playbook("playbook.yml", handler)