diff --git a/etc/kayobe/ansible/deployment/get-nvme-drives.yml b/etc/kayobe/ansible/deployment/get-nvme-drives.yml
index 105a02c02f..acc0347867 100644
--- a/etc/kayobe/ansible/deployment/get-nvme-drives.yml
+++ b/etc/kayobe/ansible/deployment/get-nvme-drives.yml
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
     - name: Retrieve NVMe device information via smartctl
       ansible.builtin.command: "smartctl -i -j {{ item }}"
       register: smartctl_info
-      loop: "{{ nvme_devices }}"
+      loop: "{{ nvme_devices | default([], true) }}"
       loop_control:
         label: "{{ item }}"
       changed_when: false
       become: true
-      when: nvme_devices | length > 0
 
     - name: Parse NVMe device model names
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-smartmon-playbook-when-no-nvme-drives-979a09fd09ea2ee1.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-smartmon-playbook-when-no-nvme-drives-979a09fd09ea2ee1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1e86a66071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-smartmon-playbook-when-no-nvme-drives-979a09fd09ea2ee1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixed an issue with the get-nvme-drives playbook where it would fail if no NVMe drives were present.