diff --git a/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-post.yml b/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-post.yml
index fbca30dfd..d60a135a3 100644
--- a/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-post.yml
+++ b/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-post.yml
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@
     - import_role:
         name: stackhpc.cephadm.commands
       vars:
-        cephadm_commands: "{{ cephadm_commands_post }}"
+        cephadm_commands: "{{ cephadm_commands_post | default([]) }}"
diff --git a/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-pre.yml b/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-pre.yml
index 08047cc51..abe58caa5 100644
--- a/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-pre.yml
+++ b/etc/kayobe/ansible/cephadm-commands-pre.yml
@@ -10,4 +10,4 @@
     - import_role:
         name: stackhpc.cephadm.commands
       vars:
-        cephadm_commands: "{{ cephadm_commands_pre }}"
+        cephadm_commands: "{{ cephadm_commands_pre | default([]) }}"