diff --git a/tasks/replication.yml b/tasks/replication.yml
index ad51da2..0448ff1 100644
--- a/tasks/replication.yml
+++ b/tasks/replication.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     priority: "{{ item.priority|default(1.0) }}"
   when: mongodb_conf_auth and mongodb_replication_params is defined
   with_items:
-    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params }}"
+    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params|default([]) }}"
 
 - name: Replication configuration without auth
   mongodb_replication:
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@
     priority: "{{ item.priority|default(1.0) }}"
   when: not mongodb_conf_auth and mongodb_replication_params is defined
   with_items:
-    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params }}"
+    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params|default([]) }}"
diff --git a/tasks/replication_init_auth.yml b/tasks/replication_init_auth.yml
index 8947cbb..513fdbb 100644
--- a/tasks/replication_init_auth.yml
+++ b/tasks/replication_init_auth.yml
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@
     host_type: "{{ item.host_type|default('replica') }}"
     hidden: "{{ item.hidden|default(false) }}"
     priority: "{{ item.priority|default(1.0) }}"
+  when: mongodb_replication_params is defined
   with_items:
-    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params }}"
+    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params|default([]) }}"
   register: mongodb_replica_init
   ignore_errors: true
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
     host_type: "{{ item.host_type|default('replica') }}"
     hidden: "{{ item.hidden|default(false) }}"
     priority: "{{ item.priority|default(1.0) }}"
+  when: mongodb_replication_params is defined
   with_items:
-    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params }}"
+    - "{{ mongodb_replication_params|default([]) }}"
   when: mongodb_replica_init|failed