diff --git a/vars/global.yml b/vars/global.yml
index 8d3592754a..c2e30af4a7 100644
--- a/vars/global.yml
+++ b/vars/global.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ f19_qcow_id: ami-00000020
 # Fedora-20-TC4-x86_64
 f20_qcow_id: ami-00000038
 # This disables the anoying requirement of logging in as fedora user on cloud images
-ec2_userdata: '#cloud-config\ndisable_root: 0'
+ec2_userdata: ['#cloud-config', 'disable_root: 0']
 # Set a default hostname base to transient. Override in host vars or command line.
 hostbase: transient
 # root_auth_users for cloud instances is '' by default