diff --git a/roles/fedmsg_base/tasks/main.yml b/roles/fedmsg_base/tasks/main.yml
index e2ed27177f..e2d73fca73 100644
--- a/roles/fedmsg_base/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/fedmsg_base/tasks/main.yml
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@
     mode=644
     owner={{item['owner']}}
     group={{item['group']}}
-  with_items: "{{ fedmsg_certs }}"
+  with_items:
+  - "{{ fedmsg_certs }}"
   when: fedmsg_certs != []
   tags:
   - config
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@
     mode=0640
     owner={{item['owner']}}
     group={{item['group']}}
-  with_items: "{{ fedmsg_certs }}"
+  with_items:
+  - "{{ fedmsg_certs }}"
   when: fedmsg_certs != []
   tags:
   - config