diff --git a/tripleo_ansible/roles/tripleo_ceph_work_dir/tasks/build_pools.yml b/tripleo_ansible/roles/tripleo_ceph_work_dir/tasks/build_pools.yml
index 554f392e0..45bc4e949 100644
--- a/tripleo_ansible/roles/tripleo_ceph_work_dir/tasks/build_pools.yml
+++ b/tripleo_ansible/roles/tripleo_ceph_work_dir/tasks/build_pools.yml
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
       with_items: "{{ ceph_pools.cinder_pool.cinder_extra_pools }}"
       when:
         - tripleo_pool_volumes
-        - item not in overrides
+        - item not in overrides | default([])
 
     - name: build resulting pool list
       set_fact: