diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index c48ceefd..8632a627 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -213,5 +213,9 @@ openstack_hosts_systemd_networkd_prefix: openstack-net
 openstack_hosts_systemd_services: []
 openstack_hosts_systemd_slice: "openstack-hosts"
 
-openstack_hosts_git_safe_directories:
-  - "*"
+# define this variable to specify directories that are 'safe' for git clone
+# during pip install, typically only required for CI jobs or when the
+# openstack service repos are pre-staged/bind-mounted into LXC containers
+# and referenced using the file:// method.
+# openstack_hosts_git_safe_directories:
+#   - "*"