diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 28603ce..3f15225 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ fail2ban_loglevel: INFO
 fail2ban_logtarget: /var/log/fail2ban.log
 
 fail2ban_ignoreself: "true"
-fail2ban_ignoreips: "127.0.0.1/8 ::1"
+fail2ban_ignoreips:
+  - "127.0.0.1/8 ::1"
 
 # In seconds
 fail2ban_bantime: 600
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 5f777ff..4a3e15b 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ fail2ban_loglevel: INFO
 fail2ban_logtarget: /var/log/fail2ban.log
 
 fail2ban_ignoreself: "true"
-fail2ban_ignoreips: "127.0.0.1/8 ::1"
+fail2ban_ignoreips:
+  - "127.0.0.1/8 ::1"
 
 # In seconds
 fail2ban_bantime: 600
diff --git a/tasks/assert.yml b/tasks/assert.yml
index 3ce9e0a..25d7366 100644
--- a/tasks/assert.yml
+++ b/tasks/assert.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
   ansible.builtin.assert:
     that:
       - fail2ban_ignoreips is defined
-      - fail2ban_ignoreips is string
+      - fail2ban_ignoreips is iterable
     quiet: yes
 
 - name: Test if fail2ban_bantime is set correctly
diff --git a/vars/main.yml b/vars/main.yml
index feaba74..99a96ff 100644
--- a/vars/main.yml
+++ b/vars/main.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ fail2ban_base_jail_configuration:
     value: "{{ fail2ban_ignoreself }}"
     section: DEFAULT
   - option: ignoreip
-    value: "{{ fail2ban_ignoreips }}"
+    value: "{{ fail2ban_ignoreips | join(' ') }}"
     section: DEFAULT
   - option: bantime
     value: "{{ fail2ban_bantime }}"