diff --git a/roles/testdata-mailman/tasks/load.yml b/roles/testdata-mailman/tasks/load.yml
index efc7957e76c68e9dac11863d5f09eece4692f8be..41e12b5425bd8d67be2bc57aa54722f00ab1713b 100644
--- a/roles/testdata-mailman/tasks/load.yml
+++ b/roles/testdata-mailman/tasks/load.yml
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@
 
 - name: Subscribe test user to test list
   shell: "echo uno@investici.org | in-container mailman-mailman /var/lib/mailman/bin/add_members -w n -a n -r - {{ test_list_name }}"
-  when: "mailman_test_list.exists"
+  when: "mailman_test_list.exists | default(False)"