diff --git a/roles/ceph-mds/tasks/create_mds_filesystems.yml b/roles/ceph-mds/tasks/create_mds_filesystems.yml
index b51c04f80..921f88240 100644
--- a/roles/ceph-mds/tasks/create_mds_filesystems.yml
+++ b/roles/ceph-mds/tasks/create_mds_filesystems.yml
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@
   delegate_to: "{{ groups[mon_group_name][0] }}"
   when:
     - ceph_release_num[ceph_release] >= ceph_release_num.jewel
-    - mds_max_mds > 1
+    - mds_max_mds | int > 1