diff --git a/bundles/apt/items.py b/bundles/apt/items.py
index 5d055d3..05528d0 100644
--- a/bundles/apt/items.py
+++ b/bundles/apt/items.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ actions = {
         'cascade_skip': False,
     },
     'apt_execute_update_commands': {
-        'command': ' && '.join(sorted(node.metadata.get('apt/additional_update_commands'))),
+        'command': ' && '.join(sorted(node.metadata.get('apt/additional_update_commands', {'true'}))),
         'triggered': True,
     },
 }