diff --git a/ansible/k3s-kubeconfig-mode.yml b/ansible/k3s-kubeconfig-mode.yml
index e1ebec4..493d708 100644
--- a/ansible/k3s-kubeconfig-mode.yml
+++ b/ansible/k3s-kubeconfig-mode.yml
@@ -169,6 +169,8 @@
           when: unit_is_preimage
 
         - name: Back up original unit (root-only)
+          # In --check the backup directory is not created, so the copy cannot be simulated.
+          ignore_errors: "{{ ansible_check_mode }}"
           ansible.builtin.copy:
             src: "{{ k3s_unit_path }}"
             remote_src: true