diff --git a/handlers/main.yml b/handlers/main.yml
index 8fed451..83b7bce 100644
--- a/handlers/main.yml
+++ b/handlers/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 ---
 - name: restart nfs
   service: "name={{ nfs_server_daemon }} state=restarted"
+  when: nfs_exports|length
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 9cb7bab..e0284f2 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
   when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
 
 - name: Ensure directories to export exist
-  file: path="{{ item.strip().split()[0] }}" state=directory
+  file: 'path="{{ item.strip().split()[0] }}" state=directory'
   with_items: nfs_exports
+  notify: restart nfs
 
 - name: Copy exports file.
   template: