diff --git a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-dib-image/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-dib-image/defaults/main.yml
index 64b5bf3b8..0bedc43c2 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-dib-image/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-dib-image/defaults/main.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ reqs_git_folder: /opt/stack/requirements
 ipa_builder_git_folder: /opt/stack/ironic-python-agent-builder
 # Settings related to installing bifrost in a virtual environment
 enable_venv: true
-bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') | default('/opt/stack/bifrost') }}"
+bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') or '/opt/stack/bifrost' }}"
 bifrost_venv_env:
   VIRTUAL_ENV: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}"
   PATH: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}" # include regular path via lookup env
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-vm-nodes/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-vm-nodes/defaults/main.yml
index 439ed1c19..2b41a0ba3 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-vm-nodes/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-create-vm-nodes/defaults/main.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ test_vm_machine: "pc-1.0"
 test_vm_libvirt_uri: "{{ lookup('env', 'LIBVIRT_CONNECT_URI') | default('qemu:///system', true) }}"
 # Settings related to installing bifrost in a virtual environment
 enable_venv: true
-bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') | default('/opt/stack/bifrost') }}"
+bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') or '/opt/stack/bifrost' }}"
 bifrost_venv_env:
   VIRTUAL_ENV: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}"
   PATH: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}" # include regular path via lookup env
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-ironic-install/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-ironic-install/defaults/main.yml
index 8ce84e001..e7863f9bf 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-ironic-install/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-ironic-install/defaults/main.yml
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ download_ipxe: false
 
 # Settings related to installing bifrost in a virtual environment
 enable_venv: true
-bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') | default('/opt/stack/bifrost') }}"
+bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') or '/opt/stack/bifrost' }}"
 bifrost_venv_env:
   VIRTUAL_ENV: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}"
   PATH: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}" # include regular path via lookup env
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-keystone-install/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-keystone-install/defaults/main.yml
index 997aafb40..3756f22e0 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-keystone-install/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-keystone-install/defaults/main.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ http_boot_folder: /httpboot
 
 # Settings related to installing bifrost in a virtual environment
 enable_venv: true
-bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') | default('/opt/stack/bifrost') }}"
+bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') or '/opt/stack/bifrost' }}"
 bifrost_venv_env:
   VIRTUAL_ENV: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}"
   PATH: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}" # include regular path via lookup env
diff --git a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-pip-install/defaults/main.yml b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-pip-install/defaults/main.yml
index 2095ecf46..4961ab7c6 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/bifrost-pip-install/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/bifrost-pip-install/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 # Global options
-bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') | default('/opt/stack/bifrost') }}"
+bifrost_venv_dir: "{{ lookup('env', 'VENV') or '/opt/stack/bifrost' }}"
 bifrost_venv_env:
   VIRTUAL_ENV: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}"
   PATH: "{{ bifrost_venv_dir }}/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}" # include regular path via lookup env