diff --git a/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/packages.yml b/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/packages.yml
index 3471ab2..0f2544a 100644
--- a/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/packages.yml
+++ b/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/packages.yml
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 ---
 - name: Install the basic python packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=present update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
-  with_items: '{{ default_python_packages }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ default_python_packages }} state=present update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
   when: not is_trusty
   tags: packages
 
 - name: Install the basic python packages on trusty
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=present update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
-  with_items: '{{ default_python_packages_trusty }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ default_python_packages_trusty }} state=present update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
   when: is_trusty
   tags: packages
 
@@ -95,12 +93,10 @@
   tags: packages
 
 - name: install common packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
-  with_items: '{{ common_packages }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ common_packages }} state={{ pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
   tags: [ 'packages', 'common_pkgs' ]
 
 - name: Install additional packages, if any
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state={{ pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
-  with_items: '{{ additional_packages | default([]) }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ additional_packages | default([]) }} state={{ pkg_state }} update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=1800
   tags: [ 'packages', 'common_pkgs', 'additional_packages' ]
 
diff --git a/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/remove-unneeded-pkgs.yml b/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/remove-unneeded-pkgs.yml
index b79d57c..f551bca 100644
--- a/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/remove-unneeded-pkgs.yml
+++ b/ubuntu-deb-general/tasks/remove-unneeded-pkgs.yml
@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
 ---
 - name: Remove unneeded base packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=absent
-  with_items: '{{ cleanup_base_packages }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ cleanup_base_packages }} state=absent
   when: cleanup_base_packages
   tags: [ 'packages', 'pkg_cleanup' ]
 
 - name: Remove unneeded X packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=absent
-  with_items: '{{ x_base_packages_to_remove }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ x_base_packages_to_remove }} state=absent
   when: cleanup_x_base_packages
   tags: [ 'packages', 'pkg_cleanup' ]
 
 - name: Remove the nfs packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=absent
-  with_items: '{{ nfs_packages }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ nfs_packages }} state=absent
   when:
     - is_not_precise
     - cleanup_nfs_packages
   tags: [ 'packages', 'pkg_cleanup' ]
 
 - name: Remove rpcbind packages
-  apt: pkg={{ item }} state=absent
-  with_items: '{{ rpcbind_packages }}'
+  apt: pkg={{ rpcbind_packages }} state=absent
   when: cleanup_rpcbind_packages
   tags: [ 'packages', 'pkg_cleanup' ]
 
 - name: Remove the exim packages
-  apt: name={{ item }} state=absent
-  with_items: '{{ exim_email_server_pkgs }}'
+  apt: name={{ exim_email_server_pkgs }} state=absent
   when: cleanup_exim_email_server
   tags: [ 'packages', 'pkg_cleanup', 'exim' ]