diff --git a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-service-node.yml b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-service-node.yml
index acb8045..78aec0a 100644
--- a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-service-node.yml
+++ b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-service-node.yml
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
     - name: Install the README file that explains where the options files are placed and how start/stop the service
       template: src={{ item }}-service.j2 dest={{ d4science_user_home }}/{{ item }} mode=0444
       with_items:
-        - 'README-service'
+        - 'README'
 
     - name: Install the script that allows the d4science user to start and stop the service without using the full path
       template: src={{ item }}.j2 dest=/home/{{ d4science_user }}/{{ item }} owner={{ d4science_user }} group={{ d4science_user }} mode=0755
-      with _items: '{{ d4science_user_service_scripts }}'
+      with_items: '{{ d4science_user_service_scripts }}'
 
     - name: Install the sudoers config that permits the tomcat user to restart the service
       become: False
diff --git a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-smartgears-node.yml b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-smartgears-node.yml
index 53055ec..1b2ffa9 100644
--- a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-smartgears-node.yml
+++ b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-smartgears-node.yml
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@
 - name: Install the script that allows the tomcat user to start and stop the service without using the full path
   template: src={{ item.1 }}.j2 dest={{ item.0.user_home }}/{{ item.1 }} owner={{ item.0.user }} group={{ item.0.user }} mode=0755
   with_nested:
-    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances }}'
+    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances | default([]) }}'
     - [ 'startContainer.sh', 'stopContainer.sh' ]
   tags: [ 'tomcat', 'd4science', 'sudo' ]
 
 - name: Install the README file that explains where the options files are placed and how start/stop the service
   template: src={{ item.1 }}.j2 dest={{ item.0.user_home }}/{{ item.1 }} owner={{ item.0.user }} group={{ item.0.user }} mode=0444
   with_nested:
-    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances }}'
+    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances | default([]) }}'
     - [ 'README' ]
   tags: [ 'tomcat', 'd4science', 'd4s_readme' ]
 
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@
 
 - name: Set the read/write permissions on the tomcat default options files
   acl: name=/etc/default/tomcat-instance-{{ item.http_port }} entity={{ item.user }} etype=user permissions=rw state=present
-  with_items: '{{ tomcat_m_instances }}'
+  with_items: '{{ tomcat_m_instances | default([]) }}'
   tags: [ 'tomcat', 'd4science', 'acl' ]
 
 - name: Set the read/write permissions on the tomcat default local options files
   acl: name=/etc/default/tomcat-instance-{{ item.http_port }}.local entity={{ item.user }} etype=user permissions=rw state=present
-  with_items: '{{ tomcat_m_instances }}'
+  with_items: '{{ tomcat_m_instances | default([]) }}'
   tags: [ 'tomcat', 'd4science', 'acl' ]
   ignore_errors: True
 
diff --git a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-tomcat-node.yml b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-tomcat-node.yml
index 17a7a56..87503fc 100644
--- a/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-tomcat-node.yml
+++ b/d4s_user_services_perms/tasks/d4s-tomcat-node.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 - name: Install the README file that explains where the options files are placed and how start/stop the service
   template: src={{ item.1 }}.j2 dest={{ item.0.user_home }}/{{ item.1 }} owner={{ item.0.user }} group={{ item.0.user }} mode=0444
   with_nested:
-    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances }}'
+    - '{{ tomcat_m_instances | default([])  }}'
     - [ 'README-tomcat' ]
   when: tomcat_m_instances is defined
   tags: [ 'tomcat', 'd4science', 'd4s_readme' ]