diff --git a/ansible/group_vars/all.yml b/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
index fc378653..3599c053 100644
--- a/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
+++ b/ansible/group_vars/all.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ loggly_token: f673760d-e0b3-4a93-a15e-2862ea074f91
 loggly_password: TebejAcutHeH_Ch0tR9ru4anaT6CRu*3
 loggly_username: ops
 
+##
+## cores and logs
+##
+
+core_file_dir: /var/log/core
+
 ##
 ## shared application configs
 ##
diff --git a/ansible/roles/docker/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/docker/tasks/main.yml
index 6fce9e86..cacd232e 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/docker/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/docker/tasks/main.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,17 @@
     owner=root
     group=root
 
+- name: create core file dir
+  become: true
+  when: docker_config == "runnable" and core_file_dir != "/var/log"
+  tags: coreDump
+  file:
+    path="{{ core_file_dir }}"
+    state=directory
+    user=root
+    group=root
+    mode=0755
+
 - name: change core dump path
   become: true
   when: docker_config == "runnable"
@@ -24,7 +35,7 @@
     name=kernel.core_pattern
     reload=true
     state=present
-    value="/var/log/core.%h.%e.%t"
+    value="{{ core_file_dir }}/core.%h.%e.%t"
 
 - name: install aufs with linux-image-extra-{{ ansible_kernel }}
   become: true