diff --git a/infrastructure-playbooks/rolling_update.yml b/infrastructure-playbooks/rolling_update.yml
index 280f6fb2e..1941d3e13 100644
--- a/infrastructure-playbooks/rolling_update.yml
+++ b/infrastructure-playbooks/rolling_update.yml
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@
 - name: upgrade active mds
   vars:
     upgrade_ceph_packages: True
-  hosts: active_mdss | default([])
+  hosts: active_mdss
   become: true
   pre_tasks:
     - name: prevent restart from the packaging
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@
 - name: upgrade standbys ceph mdss cluster
   vars:
     upgrade_ceph_packages: True
-  hosts: standby_mdss | default([])
+  hosts: standby_mdss
   become: True
   pre_tasks:
     - name: prevent restarts from the packaging