diff --git a/templates/bird.conf.j2 b/templates/bird.conf.j2
index ef93bc3..7921464 100644
--- a/templates/bird.conf.j2
+++ b/templates/bird.conf.j2
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ protocol static {{ protocol_static.name }} {
 {% endfor %}
 {% for protocol_bgp in bird.bgp.bgp %}
 protocol bgp {{ protocol_bgp.name }} {
+        {% if protocol_bgp.confederation is defined %}
         confederation {{ protocol_bgp.confederation }};
         confederation member yes;
+        {% endif %}
         local as {{ protocol_bgp.local_asnum }};
         neighbor {{ protocol_bgp.remote_addr }} as {{ protocol_bgp.remote_asnum }};
         hold time 30;