diff --git a/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0040-verify-settings.yml b/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0040-verify-settings.yml
index 178becf3ee2..f2d40e99525 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0040-verify-settings.yml
+++ b/roles/kubernetes/preinstall/tasks/0040-verify-settings.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 - name: Stop if either kube_control_plane or kube_node group is empty
   assert:
-    that: "groups.get('{{ item }}')"
+    that: "groups.get( item )"
   with_items:
     - kube_control_plane
     - kube_node