diff --git a/playbooks/utility-install.yml b/playbooks/utility-install.yml
index 07ec74db3e..667927fac6 100644
--- a/playbooks/utility-install.yml
+++ b/playbooks/utility-install.yml
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
       until: install_packages|success
       retries: 5
       delay: 2
-      with_items: utility_apt_packages | default([])
+      with_items: "{{ utility_apt_packages | default([]) }}"
       tags:
         - utility-apt-packages
     - name: Install pip packages
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
       until: install_packages|success
       retries: 5
       delay: 2
-      with_items: utility_pip_packages
+      with_items: "{{ utility_pip_packages }}"
       tags:
         - utility-pip-packages
     - name: Distribute private ssh key