diff --git a/contrib/ci-workers/README.md b/contrib/ci-workers/README.md
index cc3c85ac2..067c0cb5e 100644
--- a/contrib/ci-workers/README.md
+++ b/contrib/ci-workers/README.md
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ installation for use as a Buildbot worker in Zcash's CI.
     [zcash-ci-worker-unix]
     some-name ansible_host=<INSTANCE_IP> ansible_ssh_user=<USERNAME>
 
-- Run `ansible-playbook -i inventory/hosts unix.yml`, passing in the worker's
-  Buildbot name and password.
+- Run `ansible-playbook -e buildbot_worker_host_template=templates/host.ec2.j2 -i inventory/hosts unix.yml`,
+  passing in the worker's Buildbot name and password.
   - After a successful run, the worker should be connected to dev-ci.z.cash and
     visible in its worker list.
 
diff --git a/contrib/ci-workers/templates/host.ec2.j2 b/contrib/ci-workers/templates/host.ec2.j2
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dee692e02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/ci-workers/templates/host.ec2.j2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+OS: {{ ansible_distribution }} {{ ansible_distribution_version }}
diff --git a/contrib/ci-workers/unix.yml b/contrib/ci-workers/unix.yml
index a33fac21e..42bcaafc2 100644
--- a/contrib/ci-workers/unix.yml
+++ b/contrib/ci-workers/unix.yml
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 
     - name: Set host details for Buildbot worker
       template:
-        src: templates/host.j2
+        src: "{{ buildbot_worker_host_template }}"
         dest: "~/{{ buildbot_worker_name }}/info/host"
       become_user: "{{ buildbot_worker_user }}"
 
diff --git a/contrib/ci-workers/vars/buildbot.yml b/contrib/ci-workers/vars/buildbot.yml
index 3d21f400f..38e3fd25a 100644
--- a/contrib/ci-workers/vars/buildbot.yml
+++ b/contrib/ci-workers/vars/buildbot.yml
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 buildbot_worker_user: zcbbworker
 buildbot_master_host: dev-ci.z.cash
 buildbot_master_port: 9899
+buildbot_worker_host_template: templates/host.j2