diff --git a/tasks/section_4/cis_4.1.4.x.yml b/tasks/section_4/cis_4.1.4.x.yml
index a2f8663..7d683cf 100644
--- a/tasks/section_4/cis_4.1.4.x.yml
+++ b/tasks/section_4/cis_4.1.4.x.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.file:
       path: "{{ item.path }}"
       mode: "{{ '0600' if item.mode == '0600' else '0640' }}"
-  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files }}"
+  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files | default([]) }}"
   loop_control:
       label: "{{ item.path }}"
   when:
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.file:
       path: "{{ item.path }}"
       owner: root
-  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files }}"
+  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files | default([]) }}"
   loop_control:
       label: "{{ item.path }}"
   when:
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.file:
       path: "{{ item.path }}"
       group: root
-  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files }}"
+  loop: "{{ auditd_conf_files.files | default([]) }}"
   loop_control:
       label: "{{ item.path }}"
   when: