diff --git a/manifests/server/proxy.pp b/manifests/server/proxy.pp
index d97e9d4..f4ced2e 100644
--- a/manifests/server/proxy.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/proxy.pp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ $frontend_mode    = undef,
 $fe_use_backend   = '',
 $fe_bind_mode     = '*:80',
 $frontend_order   = '010',
-$acl_rule         = undef,
+$acl_rule         = '',
 $acl_order        = '020',
 $backend_name     = undef,
 $backend_order    = '030',
diff --git a/templates/haproxy_acl_rule.erb b/templates/haproxy_acl_rule.erb
index 8cf0d69..a9860dd 100644
--- a/templates/haproxy_acl_rule.erb
+++ b/templates/haproxy_acl_rule.erb
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
-
+<% if @acl_rule != '' -%>
 acl <%= @acl_rule %>
+<% else -%>
+# no acl given %>
+<% end -%>