diff --git a/tasks/section_5/cis_5.2.4.x.yml b/tasks/section_5/cis_5.2.4.x.yml
index a1fd1d6e..8e7d983e 100644
--- a/tasks/section_5/cis_5.2.4.x.yml
+++ b/tasks/section_5/cis_5.2.4.x.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.file:
       path: "{{ item.path }}"
       mode: '0640'
-  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files }}"
+  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files|default([])}}"
   loop_control:
       label: "{{ item.path }}"
   when: