diff --git a/tasks/persistent_cloud.yml b/tasks/persistent_cloud.yml
index 2a55fe82ba..91c41f01fa 100644
--- a/tasks/persistent_cloud.yml
+++ b/tasks/persistent_cloud.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
       flavor_id: "{{ instance_type|flavor_name_to_id('admin', ADMIN_PASS, inventory_tenant, os_auth_url) }}"
       security_groups: "{{security_group}}"
       key_name: "{{ keypair }}"
-      nics: {{ cloud_networks }}
+      nics: "{{ cloud_networks }}"
       user_data: "#cloud-config\ndisable_root: 0"
       floating_ips:
         - "{{public_ip}}"