diff --git a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/data_processing/nodegroup_templates/workflows/copy.py b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/data_processing/nodegroup_templates/workflows/copy.py
index 291bf7b829..164e5bb18d 100644
--- a/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/data_processing/nodegroup_templates/workflows/copy.py
+++ b/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/project/data_processing/nodegroup_templates/workflows/copy.py
@@ -70,8 +70,9 @@ class CopyNodegroupTemplate(create_flow.ConfigureNodegroupTemplate):
 
         s_fields["security_autogroup"].initial = template.auto_security_group
 
-        s_fields["security_groups"].initial = dict(
-            [(sg, sg) for sg in template.security_groups])
+        if template.security_groups:
+            s_fields["security_groups"].initial = dict(
+                [(sg, sg) for sg in template.security_groups])
 
         processes_dict = dict()
         try: