diff --git a/ansible/group_vars/all/docker b/ansible/group_vars/all/docker
index 567d4f2e0..d9ab508b3 100644
--- a/ansible/group_vars/all/docker
+++ b/ansible/group_vars/all/docker
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # Docker configuration.
 
+# Name of the docker storage driver. Default is 'devicemapper'.
+docker_storage_driver: devicemapper
+
 # Name of the docker storage LVM volume group.
 docker_storage_volume_group: data
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-default-docker-storage-driver-e05832be7a4c2ab8.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-default-docker-storage-driver-e05832be7a4c2ab8.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af068d741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-default-docker-storage-driver-e05832be7a4c2ab8.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes failure to configure Docker devicemapper storage when the default
+    value of ``docker_storage_driver`` is used.