diff --git a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/bootstrap.py b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/bootstrap.py
index 037bf80..55867cc 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/bootstrap.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/bootstrap.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for bootstrapping Debian'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/filesystem.py b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/filesystem.py
index 7fa03ae..014554f 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/filesystem.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/filesystem.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import volume
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for formatting'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/loopback.py b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/loopback.py
index 7215476..0de1764 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/loopback.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/loopback.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import volume
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for creating loopback volumes'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/partitioning.py b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/partitioning.py
index c8f8fca..3dd5b7a 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/partitioning.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/common/tasks/partitioning.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import volume
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for partitioning the volume'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/plugins/minimize_size/tasks/shrink.py b/bootstrapvz/plugins/minimize_size/tasks/shrink.py
index 5b532ea..66497d2 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/plugins/minimize_size/tasks/shrink.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/plugins/minimize_size/tasks/shrink.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import os
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for reducing volume size'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/providers/docker/tasks/commands.py b/bootstrapvz/providers/docker/tasks/commands.py
index 5f1827c..1394674 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/providers/docker/tasks/commands.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/providers/docker/tasks/commands.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from bootstrapvz.common.tasks import host
 
 class AddRequiredCommands(Task):
     description = 'Adding commands required for docker'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/bootstrapvz/providers/ec2/tasks/host.py b/bootstrapvz/providers/ec2/tasks/host.py
index bedb368..0905c2a 100644
--- a/bootstrapvz/providers/ec2/tasks/host.py
+++ b/bootstrapvz/providers/ec2/tasks/host.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from bootstrapvz.common.tasks import host
 
 class AddExternalCommands(Task):
     description = 'Determining required external commands for EC2 bootstrapping'
-    phase = phases.preparation
+    phase = phases.validation
     successors = [host.CheckExternalCommands]
 
     @classmethod