diff --git a/templates/rabbitmq.config.epp b/templates/rabbitmq.config.epp
index b405e793b..c108354c1 100644
--- a/templates/rabbitmq.config.epp
+++ b/templates/rabbitmq.config.epp
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@
     {auth_backends, [rabbit_auth_backend_internal, rabbit_auth_backend_ldap]},
 <% } -%>
 <% if $rabbitmq::config::config_cluster {-%>
+    <% if !$rabbitmq::config::cluster_nodes.empty {-%>
     {cluster_nodes, {['rabbit@<%= $rabbitmq::config::cluster_nodes.join("', 'rabbit@") %>'], <%= $rabbitmq::config::cluster_node_type %>}},
+    <% } else {%>
+    {cluster_nodes, {[], <%= $rabbitmq::config::cluster_node_type %>}},
+    <% } %>
     {cluster_partition_handling, <%= $rabbitmq::config::cluster_partition_handling %>},
 <% } -%>
     {tcp_listen_options, [