diff --git a/roles/knot/templates/etc/knot/knot.conf.j2 b/roles/knot/templates/etc/knot/knot.conf.j2
index 92b1587..ee49875 100644
--- a/roles/knot/templates/etc/knot/knot.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/knot/templates/etc/knot/knot.conf.j2
@@ -108,9 +108,11 @@ zone:
 {% for replica in zone.replicas %}
     acl: acl-xfr-{{ replica }}
 {% endfor %}
-{% for updater in zone.updaters | default([]) %}
+{% if 'updaters' in zone %}
+{% for updater in zone.updaters %}
     acl: acl-update-{{ updater }}
 {% endfor %}
+{% endif %}
 {% for replica in zone.replicas %}
     notify: remote-{{ replica }}
 {% endfor %}