diff --git a/playbooks/packages.yml b/playbooks/packages.yml
index 297b4ab..9cbadbc 100644
--- a/playbooks/packages.yml
+++ b/playbooks/packages.yml
@@ -13,5 +13,5 @@
   tasks:
     - name: Install extra packages if listed
       package:
-        name: "{{ packages_extra }}"
+        name: "{{ packages_extra | default([]) }}"
         state: present