diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index dab098fb0..4e0af66b6 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -507,9 +507,9 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_pusher_workers_metrics_range_start: 19200
 matrix_synapse_federation_pusher_instances: []
 
 # matrix_synapse_start_pushers controls if the main Synapse process should push out notifications or if it should be left to pusher workers (see `matrix_synapse_federation_pusher_instances`).
-# This is enabled if workers are disabled, or if there are no pusher workers.
+# This is enabled if workers are disabled, or if they are enabled, but there are no pusher workers.
 # Adjusting this value manually is generally not necessary.
-matrix_synapse_start_pushers: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'pusher') | list | length > 0) }}"
+matrix_synapse_start_pushers: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'pusher') | list | length == 0) }}"
 
 # matrix_synapse_workers_federation_sender_workers_count controls the number of federation sender workers to spawn.
 # See https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/latest/workers.html#synapseappfederation_sender
@@ -522,18 +522,18 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_federation_sender_workers_metrics_range_start: 19400
 matrix_synapse_federation_sender_instances: []
 
 # matrix_synapse_send_federation controls if the main Synapse process should send federation traffic or if it should be left to federation_sender workers (see `matrix_synapse_federation_sender_instances`).
-# This is allowed if workers are disabled, or if there are no federation sender workers.
+# This is allowed if workers are disabled, or they are enabled, but there are no federation sender workers.
 # Adjusting this value manually is generally not necessary.
-matrix_synapse_send_federation: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'federation_sender') | list | length > 0) }}"
+matrix_synapse_send_federation: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'federation_sender') | list | length == 0) }}"
 
 matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_workers_count: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_presets[matrix_synapse_workers_preset]['media_repository_workers_count'] }}"
 matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_workers_port_range_start: 18551
 matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_workers_metrics_range_start: 19551
 
 # matrix_synapse_enable_media_repo controls if the main Synapse process should serve media repository endpoints or if it should be left to media_repository workers (see `matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_workers_count`).
-# This is enabled if workers are disabled, or if there are no media repository workers.
+# This is enabled if workers are disabled, or if they are enabled, but there are no media repository workers.
 # Adjusting this value manually is generally not necessary.
-matrix_synapse_enable_media_repo: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'media_repository') | list | length > 0) }}"
+matrix_synapse_enable_media_repo: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'media_repository') | list | length == 0) }}"
 
 # matrix_synapse_media_instance_running_background_jobs populates the `media_instance_running_background_jobs` Synapse configuration used when Synapse workers are in use (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled`).
 # `media_instance_running_background_jobs` is meant to point to a single media-repository worker, which is dedicated to running background tasks that maintain the media repository.