diff --git a/nginx/defaults/main.yml b/nginx/defaults/main.yml
index 836de7c7..932356b0 100644
--- a/nginx/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/nginx/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 ---
 
 nginx_minimal: False
-nginx_backports: False
+# backward compatibility with a previously used variable
+nginx_backports: "{{ nginx_jessie_backports | default(false, true) }}"
 
 nginx_package_name: "nginx-full"