diff --git a/inventory/group_vars/all b/inventory/group_vars/all
index 91369120cd..35fca4855f 100644
--- a/inventory/group_vars/all
+++ b/inventory/group_vars/all
@@ -29,4 +29,5 @@ virt_install_command: /usr/sbin/virt-install -n ${inventory_hostname} -r ${mem_s
                  --network=bridge=br0 --autostart --noautoconsole
 
 
-
+# By default, nodes get no fedmsg certs.  They need to declare them explicitly.
+fedmsg_certs: []
diff --git a/tasks/fedmsg_base.yml b/tasks/fedmsg_base.yml
index a8f3f31b30..267eacf88a 100644
--- a/tasks/fedmsg_base.yml
+++ b/tasks/fedmsg_base.yml
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
     owner={{item['owner']}}
     group={{item['group']}}
   with_items: ${fedmsg_certs}
-  when: fedmsg_certs is defined
+  when: fedmsg_certs is not []
   tags:
   - config
 
@@ -57,6 +57,6 @@
     owner={{item['owner']}}
     group={{item['group']}}
   with_items: ${fedmsg_certs}
-  when: fedmsg_certs is defined
+  when: fedmsg_certs is not []
   tags:
   - config