diff --git a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/defaults/main.yml b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/defaults/main.yml
index 278518b15..aacfb22a2 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/defaults/main.yml
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ local_path_provisioner_reclaim_policy: Delete
 local_path_provisioner_claim_root: /opt/local-path-provisioner/
 local_path_provisioner_is_default_storageclass: "true"
 local_path_provisioner_debug: false
+local_path_provisioner_helper_image_repo: "busybox"
 local_path_provisioner_helper_image_tag: "latest"
diff --git a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/templates/local-path-storage-cm.yml.j2 b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/templates/local-path-storage-cm.yml.j2
index df4512441..9cd7fd3ff 100644
--- a/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/templates/local-path-storage-cm.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/kubernetes-apps/external_provisioner/local_path_provisioner/templates/local-path-storage-cm.yml.j2
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ data:
     spec:
       containers:
       - name: helper-pod
-        image: {% if local_path_provisioner_helper_image_repo is defined %}{{ local_path_provisioner_helper_image_repo }}:{{ local_path_provisioner_helper_image_tag }}{% else %}busybox{% endif %}
+        image: "{{ local_path_provisioner_helper_image_repo }}:{{ local_path_provisioner_helper_image_tag }}"
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent