diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
index f57c44bdbc..748ec285c5 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/openqa
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ openqa_compose_arches: x86_64,aarch64
 openqa_update_arches: ['x86_64']
 
 # all our workers need NFS access
-openqa_nfs_workers: {{ groups['openqa_workers'] }}
+openqa_nfs_workers: "{{ groups['openqa_workers'] }}"
 
 deployment_type: prod
 freezes: false
diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/openqa_lab b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_lab
index 0886a28b39..dc69743a8f 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/openqa_lab
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/openqa_lab
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ openqa_compose_arches: x86_64,aarch64,ppc64le
 openqa_update_arches: ['x86_64', 'ppc64le']
 
 # all our workers need NFS access
-openqa_nfs_workers: {{ groups['openqa_lab_workers'] }}
+openqa_nfs_workers: "{{ groups['openqa_lab_workers'] }}"
 
 # FIXME: disable consumers that write to wiki until auth key
 # is working again: