diff --git a/roles/common/templates/etc/bind/named.conf.options.gateway.j2 b/roles/common/templates/etc/bind/named.conf.options.gateway.j2
index 1424638..1d4dddc 100644
--- a/roles/common/templates/etc/bind/named.conf.options.gateway.j2
+++ b/roles/common/templates/etc/bind/named.conf.options.gateway.j2
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ options {
 {% endif %}
 
    // caching name services
-{% if bind9_gateway_recursion is defined and bind9_gateway_recursion|bool %}
-   recursion {{ bind9_gateway_recursion }};
+{% if bind9_gateway_recursion is defined and bind9_gateway_recursion|string|length > 0 %}
+   recursion {{ "yes" if bind9_gateway_recursion|bool else "no" }};
 {% else %}
    recursion yes;
 {% endif %}