diff --git a/roles/network_plugin/calico/tasks/pre.yml b/roles/network_plugin/calico/tasks/pre.yml
index e274808b6..74d3f7915 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/calico/tasks/pre.yml
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/calico/tasks/pre.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
   - name: Set fact calico_datastore to etcd if needed
     set_fact:
       calico_datastore: etcd
-    when: "'etcd_endpoints' in calico_cni_config.plugins.0"
+    when:
+    - "'plugins' in calico_cni_config"
+    - "'etcd_endpoints' in calico_cni_config.plugins.0"
   when: calico_cni_config_slurp.content is defined
 
 - name: Calico | Get kubelet hostname