diff --git a/templates/nova.conf.j2 b/templates/nova.conf.j2
index e36c328d..b0583998 100644
--- a/templates/nova.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/nova.conf.j2
@@ -51,12 +51,15 @@ instance_usage_audit_period = hour
 
 # Notifications
 [oslo_messaging_notifications]
-{% set notification_topics = ['notifications'] %}
+{% set notification_topics = [] %}
+{% if nova_ceilometer_enabled %}
+{%   set _ = notification_topics.append('notifications') %}
+{% endif %}
 {% if nova_designate_enabled %}
 {%   set _ = notification_topics.append(nova_notifications_designate) %}
 {% endif %}
 topics = {{ notification_topics | join(',') }}
-driver = {{ (nova_ceilometer_enabled | bool) | ternary('messagingv2', 'noop') }}
+driver = {{ (notification_topics | length > 0) | ternary('messagingv2', 'noop') }}
 transport_url = {{ nova_oslomsg_notify_transport }}://{% for host in nova_oslomsg_notify_servers.split(',') %}{{ nova_oslomsg_notify_userid }}:{{ nova_oslomsg_notify_password }}@{{ host }}:{{ nova_oslomsg_notify_port }}{% if not loop.last %},{% else %}/{{ nova_oslomsg_notify_vhost }}{% if nova_oslomsg_notify_use_ssl | bool %}?ssl=1{% else %}?ssl=0{% endif %}{% endif %}{% endfor %}