diff --git a/scripts/floatup.py b/scripts/floatup.py
index 2a2fbdfb50b88b73582293c8e39b0cf1286394e1..61486f39d66c3f254deca0dc3ac7bbc0aaa774bb 100755
--- a/scripts/floatup.py
+++ b/scripts/floatup.py
@@ -129,8 +129,10 @@ def main():
 
         print('creating VM group...')
         resp = do_request(args.url + '/api/create-group', args.ssh, req)
+        group_id = resp['group_id']
         with open(args.state_file, 'w') as fd:
-            fd.write(resp['group_id'])
+            fd.write(group_id)
+        print(f'created VM group {group_id}')
 
         install_ssh_key()