diff --git a/deployment/ceph-ansible/ceph-osd.yaml b/deployment/ceph-ansible/ceph-osd.yaml
index f19672b7e8..e5483af35b 100644
--- a/deployment/ceph-ansible/ceph-osd.yaml
+++ b/deployment/ceph-ansible/ceph-osd.yaml
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ outputs:
                   state: touch
                 when:
                   - not tripleo_ceph_paused_stat.stat.exists|bool
+                  - ceph_paused is defined
                   - ceph_paused is success
             delegate_to: "{{ ceph_mon_short_bootstrap_node_name }}"
             vars: