diff --git a/common/deploy-steps.j2 b/common/deploy-steps.j2
index 232cfe794a..2c72e9196c 100644
--- a/common/deploy-steps.j2
+++ b/common/deploy-steps.j2
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ outputs:
                 - include_tasks: deployments.yaml
                   vars:
                     force: false
-                  with_items: "{{ '{{' }} lookup('vars', 'pre_deployments_' + tripleo_role_name)|default([]) {{ '}}' }}"
+                  with_items: "{{ '{{' }} lookup('vars', 'pre_deployments_' + tripleo_role_name, default=[]) {{ '}}' }}"
               tags:
                 - overcloud
                 - pre_deploy_steps
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ outputs:
                 - include_tasks: deployments.yaml
                   vars:
                     force: false
-                  with_items: "{{ '{{' }} lookup('vars', 'post_deployments_' + tripleo_role_name)|default([]) {{ '}}' }}"
+                  with_items: "{{ '{{' }} lookup('vars', 'post_deployments_' + tripleo_role_name, default=[]) {{ '}}' }}"
               tags:
                 - overcloud
                 - post_deploy_steps