diff --git a/ansible_builder/user_definition.py b/ansible_builder/user_definition.py
index 0ccf0818..63633920 100644
--- a/ansible_builder/user_definition.py
+++ b/ansible_builder/user_definition.py
@@ -229,15 +229,12 @@ def validate(self):
             images = self.raw.get('images', {})
             if images:
                 self.base_image = ImageDescription(images, 'base_image')
-                if images.get('builder_image'):
-                    self.builder_image = ImageDescription(images, 'builder_image')
-                    self.build_arg_defaults['EE_BUILDER_IMAGE'] = self.builder_image.name
+                self.builder_image = ImageDescription(images, 'builder_image')
 
                 # Must set these values so that Containerfile uses the proper images
-                self.build_arg_defaults['EE_BASE_IMAGE'] = self.base_image.name
-                if self.builder_image:
+                if self.base_image.name:
+                    self.build_arg_defaults['EE_BASE_IMAGE'] = self.base_image.name
+                if self.builder_image.name:
                     self.build_arg_defaults['EE_BUILDER_IMAGE'] = self.builder_image.name
-                else:
-                    self.build_arg_defaults['EE_BUILDER_IMAGE'] = None
 
             self._validate_additional_build_files()
diff --git a/test/integration/test_create.py b/test/integration/test_create.py
index 56c9f107..2a315a20 100644
--- a/test/integration/test_create.py
+++ b/test/integration/test_create.py
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ def test_v2_default_images(cli, build_dir_and_ee_yml):
     assert containerfile.exists()
     text = containerfile.read_text()
 
-    assert "ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:latest" in text
-    assert "ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/ansible-builder:latest" in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:latest"' in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/ansible-builder:latest"' in text
 
 
 def test_v2_default_base_image(cli, build_dir_and_ee_yml):
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ def test_v2_default_base_image(cli, build_dir_and_ee_yml):
     assert containerfile.exists()
     text = containerfile.read_text()
 
-    assert "ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:latest" in text
-    assert "ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/awx-ee:latest" in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/ansible-runner:latest"' in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/awx-ee:latest"' in text
 
 
 def test_v2_default_builder_image(cli, build_dir_and_ee_yml):
@@ -192,8 +192,8 @@ def test_v2_default_builder_image(cli, build_dir_and_ee_yml):
     assert containerfile.exists()
     text = containerfile.read_text()
 
-    assert "ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/awx-ee:latest" in text
-    assert "ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE=quay.io/ansible/ansible-builder:latest" in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BASE_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/awx-ee:latest"' in text
+    assert 'ARG EE_BUILDER_IMAGE="quay.io/ansible/ansible-builder:latest"' in text
 
 
 def test_pre_post_commands(cli, data_dir, tmp_path):