diff --git a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_cloud_controller/openstack/templates/external-openstack-cloud-config.j2 b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_cloud_controller/openstack/templates/external-openstack-cloud-config.j2
index ab8d5f39bad..46e4c6e6dff 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_cloud_controller/openstack/templates/external-openstack-cloud-config.j2
+++ b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_cloud_controller/openstack/templates/external-openstack-cloud-config.j2
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [Global]
 auth-url="{{ external_openstack_auth_url }}"
-{% if external_openstack_application_credential_id is not defined and external_openstack_application_credential_name is not defined %}
+{% if external_openstack_application_credential_id == "" and external_openstack_application_credential_name == "" %}
 username="{{ external_openstack_username }}"
 password="{{ external_openstack_password }}"
 {% endif %}