diff --git a/tasks/install.yaml b/tasks/install.yaml
index 02ed807..94b94f2 100644
--- a/tasks/install.yaml
+++ b/tasks/install.yaml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
   package:
     name: "{{ item }}"
     state: installed
-  with_items: zuul_build_depends
+  with_items: "{{ zuul_build_depends }}"
   when: zuul_install_method == 'git' or zuul_install_method == 'pip'
 
 - include: "install/{{ zuul_install_method }}.yaml"