diff --git a/tasks/install.yml b/tasks/install.yml
index 9e524d0..eecb99e 100644
--- a/tasks/install.yml
+++ b/tasks/install.yml
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
       iptables_raw:
         name: "{{ item.name }}"
         rules: "{{ item.rules }}"
-        state: "{{ item.state }}"
+        state: "{{ item.state | default('present') }}"
         weight: "{{ item.weight | default(omit) }}"
         table: "{{ item.table | default(omit) }}"
       loop: "{{ nginx_iptables_rules_default + nginx_iptables_rules_extra }}"