diff --git a/ansible/roles/designate/templates/named.conf.j2 b/ansible/roles/designate/templates/named.conf.j2
index 60b16f2691..1fa543cd38 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/designate/templates/named.conf.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/designate/templates/named.conf.j2
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#jinja2: trim_blocks: False
 include "/etc/rndc.key";
 options {
         listen-on port {{ designate_bind_port }} { {{ hostvars[inventory_hostname]['ansible_' + hostvars[inventory_hostname]['api_interface']]['ipv4']['address'] }}; };
@@ -7,7 +8,9 @@ options {
         auth-nxdomain no;
         request-ixfr no;
         recursion {{ designate_recursion }};
+        {% if designate_forwarders_addresses %}
         forwarders { {{ designate_forwarders_addresses }}; };
+        {% endif %}
         minimal-responses yes;
         allow-notify { {% for host in groups['designate-worker'] %}{{ hostvars[host]['ansible_' + hostvars[host]['api_interface']]['ipv4']['address'] }};{% endfor %} };
 };