diff --git a/ansible/kolla-ansible.yml b/ansible/kolla-ansible.yml
index 7a5f9e499..6c1361483 100644
--- a/ansible/kolla-ansible.yml
+++ b/ansible/kolla-ansible.yml
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@
           required: True
         - var_name: "kolla_external_vip_address"
           description: "external API VIP address"
-          required: True
+          required: "{{ public_net_name != internal_net_name }}"
         - var_name: "kolla_external_fqdn"
           description: "External API Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)"
-          required: True
+          required: "{{ public_net_name != internal_net_name }}"
       tags:
         - config
         - config-validation
diff --git a/ansible/public-openrc.yml b/ansible/public-openrc.yml
index d81d1300b..412c2cd19 100644
--- a/ansible/public-openrc.yml
+++ b/ansible/public-openrc.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     - public-openrc
   vars:
     public_api_proto: "{% if kolla_enable_tls_external | bool %}https{% else %}http{% endif %}"
-    public_api_host: "{{ kolla_external_fqdn }}"
+    public_api_host: "{{ kolla_external_fqdn or kolla_internal_fqdn }}"
     public_api_keystone_port: 5000
   roles:
     - role: public-openrc
diff --git a/ansible/roles/kolla-ansible/templates/globals.yml.j2 b/ansible/roles/kolla-ansible/templates/globals.yml.j2
index 85b84472e..10b809a10 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/kolla-ansible/templates/globals.yml.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/kolla-ansible/templates/globals.yml.j2
@@ -36,17 +36,21 @@ kolla_internal_vip_address: "{{ kolla_internal_vip_address }}"
 # default it is the same as kolla_internal_vip_address.
 kolla_internal_fqdn: "{{ kolla_internal_fqdn }}"
 
+{% if kolla_external_vip_address %}
 # This should be a VIP, an unused IP on your network that will float between
 # the hosts running keepalived for high-availability. It defaults to the
 # kolla_internal_vip_address, allowing internal and external communication to
 # share the same address.  Specify a kolla_external_vip_address to separate
 # internal and external requests between two VIPs.
 kolla_external_vip_address: "{{ kolla_external_vip_address }}"
+{% endif %}
 
+{% if kolla_external_fqdn %}
 # The Public address used to communicate with OpenStack as set in the public_url
 # for the endpoints that will be created. This DNS name should map to
 # kolla_external_vip_address.
 kolla_external_fqdn: "{{ kolla_external_fqdn }}"
+{% endif %}
 
 ################
 # Docker options
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-precheck-no-public-net-c0db9168063b6203.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-precheck-no-public-net-c0db9168063b6203.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cfe1ffced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-precheck-no-public-net-c0db9168063b6203.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes an issue with configuration validation when no public API network is
+    in use. See `story 2009134
+    <https://storyboard.openstack.org/#!/story/2009134>`__ for details.