diff --git a/tools/gate/playbooks/docker-image-build.yaml b/tools/gate/playbooks/docker-image-build.yaml
index 0fe524e8..e2a5f0b5 100644
--- a/tools/gate/playbooks/docker-image-build.yaml
+++ b/tools/gate/playbooks/docker-image-build.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
       environment:
         BRANCH: "{{ zuul.branch }}"
         CHANGE: "{{ zuul.change }}"
-        COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev }}"
+        COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev | default('') }}"
         PATCHSET: "{{ zuul.patchset }}"
       register: image_tags
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
               DOCKER_REGISTRY: "quay.io"
               IMAGE_PREFIX: "airshipit"
               IMAGE_TAG: "{{ item }}"
-              COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev }}"
+              COMMIT: "{{ zuul.newrev | default('') }}"
               PUSH_IMAGE: "true"
           with_items: "{{ image_tags.stdout_lines }}"