diff --git a/doc/source/configure-ceph.rst b/doc/source/configure-ceph.rst
index 4c86f8c..42c78f8 100644
--- a/doc/source/configure-ceph.rst
+++ b/doc/source/configure-ceph.rst
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ configurations need to be added to the user variable file:
     - component: gnocchi_api
       package: "{{ python_ceph_packages }}"
       client:
-        - '{{ gnocchi_ceph_client }}'
+        - name: '{{ gnocchi_ceph_client }}'
       service: '{{ ceph_gnocchi_service_names }}'
 
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/ceph_components_format-3a947aa47ed2ff71.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/ceph_components_format-3a947aa47ed2ff71.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b58bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/ceph_components_format-3a947aa47ed2ff71.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    Format of ``client`` key inside ``ceph_extra_components`` variable has been
+    deprecated in favor of a mapping with one required attribute ``name``.
+    Having ``client`` key defined as a simple list is kept for backwards compatibility
+    but will be removed in future releases.
+
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Backwards compatibility of ``client`` key inside ``ceph_extra_components`` variable
+    has been fixed to support both a list and a list of mappings.
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index 4f0ef7d..b25c761 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ ceph_extra_components: []
 #    package:
 #      - "{{ python_ceph_package }}"
 #    client:
-#      - '{{ gnocchi_ceph_client }}'
+#      - name: '{{ gnocchi_ceph_client }}'
 #    service: '{{ ceph_gnocchi_service_names }}'
 
 ceph_client_filtered_packages: |-
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ ceph_client_filtered_clients: |-
             (cinder_service_backup_driver is defined and
              'ceph' in cinder_service_backup_driver))) %}
  {%       for client in comp.client %}
- {%         if client['enabled'] | default(true) | bool  %}
+ {%         if client is not mapping %}
+ {%           set _ = clients.append({'name': client}) %}
+ {%         elif client['enabled'] | default(true) | bool  %}
  {%           set _ = clients.append(client) %}
  {%         endif %}
  {%       endfor %}