diff --git a/group_vars/vm-hosts.yml b/group_vars/vm-hosts.yml
index c3515a9..5910818 100644
--- a/group_vars/vm-hosts.yml
+++ b/group_vars/vm-hosts.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ libvirt_networks:
   type: bridge
   bridge_iface: mgmt
 storage_host: storage0.pyrocufflink.blue
+shared_volume_mount_packages:
+- nfs-utils
 mount_shared_volumes:
 - mountpoint: /var/lib/libvirt/images
   host: '[{{ lookup("dig", storage_host, "qtype=AAAA") }}]'
diff --git a/roles/vmhost/tasks/main.yml b/roles/vmhost/tasks/main.yml
index e7316b6..7945929 100644
--- a/roles/vmhost/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/vmhost/tasks/main.yml
@@ -85,6 +85,11 @@
     name: ksm
     state: started
 
+- name: ensure required mount helper utilities are installed
+  package:
+    name: '{{ shared_volume_mount_packages }}'
+    state: present
+  tags: install
 - name: ensure storage volumes are mounted
   mount:
     path: '{{ item.mountpoint }}'