diff --git a/roles/vncserver/tasks/main.yml b/roles/vncserver/tasks/main.yml
index 1a0078fb7dc9b2f4870f3fae247148bbb9abcb79..aad060a64e7bb34e604a0b23d90038114c10668b 100644
--- a/roles/vncserver/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/vncserver/tasks/main.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 - name: install system packages apt
   apt: name={{ item }} state=present update_cache=true  force=yes
   become: true
-  with_items: system_packages
+  with_items: {{ system_packages }}
   when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
 
 - name: force the use of KDE desktop