diff --git a/tasks/create_proxmox_debian_template.yml b/tasks/create_proxmox_debian_template.yml
index eecc43b..55475e2 100644
--- a/tasks/create_proxmox_debian_template.yml
+++ b/tasks/create_proxmox_debian_template.yml
@@ -44,12 +44,27 @@
         args:
           creates: "/etc/pve/lxc/{{ lxc_id }}.conf"
 
-      - name: Wait for LXC to boot and get IP
+      - name: Check if LXC container {{ lxc_name }} is running
+        ansible.builtin.command:
+          cmd: pct status {{ lxc_id }}
+        register: pct_status
+        changed_when: false
+
+      - name: Start the LXC container {{ lxc_name }} if stopped
+        ansible.builtin.command:
+          cmd: pct start {{ lxc_id }}
+        when: "'status: stopped' in pct_status.stdout"
+        register: start_result
+        changed_when: "'status: stopped' in pct_status.stdout"
+
+      - name: Wait until container has an IP address
         ansible.builtin.shell: "pct exec {{ lxc_id }} -- hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'"
         register: lxc_ip
-        until: lxc_ip.stdout | ansible.utils.ipaddr
-        retries: 20
-        delay: 3
+        until: lxc_ip.stdout != ''
+        retries: 10
+        delay: 5
+        changed_when: false
+        failed_when: lxc_ip.stdout == ''
         
       - name: Add temporary LXC to in-memory inventory
         ansible.builtin.add_host: