diff --git a/roles/pi_musicmouse/tasks/main.yml b/roles/pi_musicmouse/tasks/main.yml
index 85f77ca..7a418ff 100644
--- a/roles/pi_musicmouse/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/pi_musicmouse/tasks/main.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@
   ansible.builtin.stat:
     path: /opt/musicmouse/python-backend/pyproject.toml
   register: pi_musicmouse_pyproject
+  # Meaningless under --check on a host that has never been deployed: the git task
+  # above reports "changed" without writing anything, so there is nothing to stat.
+  when: not ansible_check_mode
 
 - name: Fail on a pre-rearchitecture checkout
   ansible.builtin.fail:
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@
       mediapi_install_kidsmusic to false for this host and leave whatever is installed
       alone. Stopping here rather than failing three tasks deeper with the real reason
       buried.
-  when: not pi_musicmouse_pyproject.stat.exists
+  when: not ansible_check_mode and not pi_musicmouse_pyproject.stat.exists
 
 - name: Create virtualenv with Python {{ pi_musicmouse_python_version }}
   ansible.builtin.command: