diff --git a/roles/validate-host/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/validate-host/defaults/main.yaml
index 0784d5d0e..80ced4067 100644
--- a/roles/validate-host/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/validate-host/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
-zuul_site_image_manifest: "{{ validate_host_default_image_manifest_files }}"
-zuul_site_image_manifest_files: "{{ zuul_site_image_manifest_files|default(validate_host_default_image_manifest_files) }}"
+zuul_site_image_manifest_files:
+  - /etc/dib-builddate.txt
+  - /etc/image-hostname.txt
diff --git a/roles/validate-host/vars/main.yaml b/roles/validate-host/vars/main.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 47368c9c8..000000000
--- a/roles/validate-host/vars/main.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-validate_host_default_image_manifest_files:
-  - /etc/dib-builddate.txt
-  - /etc/image-hostname.txt