diff --git a/tasks/base.yml b/tasks/base.yml
index c66d2d6e4a..6f06eba63f 100644
--- a/tasks/base.yml
+++ b/tasks/base.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 - name: sshd_config 
   copy: src={{ item }} dest=/etc/ssh/sshd_config mode=600
   first_available_file:
-    - {{ sshd_config }}
+    - ${sshd_config}
     - ${files}/ssh/sshd_config.{{ ansible_fqdn }}
     - ${files}/ssh/sshd_config.{{ host_group }}
     - ${files}/ssh/sshd_config.{{ dist_tag }}