diff --git a/nova/core/galaxy.yml b/nova/core/galaxy.yml
index 571630e1..71ae1ad8 100644
--- a/nova/core/galaxy.yml
+++ b/nova/core/galaxy.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace: nova
 name: core
 
 # The version of the collection. Must be compatible with semantic versioning
-version: 3.1.17
+version: 3.1.18
 
 # The path to the Markdown (.md) readme file. This path is relative to the root of the collection
 readme: README.md
diff --git a/nova/core/roles/configure_networking/tasks/vsphere/networkd.yml b/nova/core/roles/configure_networking/tasks/vsphere/networkd.yml
index 0eecb620..7601846e 100644
--- a/nova/core/roles/configure_networking/tasks/vsphere/networkd.yml
+++ b/nova/core/roles/configure_networking/tasks/vsphere/networkd.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     - name: Cleaning up Debian...
       when: configure_networking_os is search('Debian')
       block:
-        - name: Disabling networking service on Debian...
+        - name: Masking NetworkManager service and cleaning previous networkd configuration on Debian...
           ansible.builtin.uri:
             url: https://{{ vmware_defaults.hostname }}/api/vcenter/vm/{{ created_vm_info.value[0].vm | default(vcenter_vm_info.value[0].vm) }}/guest/processes?action=create
             method: POST
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@
             body:
               credentials: "{{ rest_api_credentials }}"
               spec:
-                arguments: -c "rm -f /etc/systemd/network/* && systemctl disable networking"
+                arguments: >
+                  -c "rm -f /etc/systemd/network/* &&
+                  systemctl stop NetworkManager &&
+                  systemctl mask NetworkManager"
                 path: /bin/bash
             status_code: 201
             body_format: json