diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/apt.yml b/roles/common/tasks/apt.yml
index 01c7b31..529e155 100644
--- a/roles/common/tasks/apt.yml
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/apt.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@
   tags:
     - apt-configuration
 
+- name: (apt.yml) check if legacy /etc/apt/sources.list exists (Debian >= 13)
+  stat:
+    path: /etc/apt/sources.list
+  register: apt_sources_list_stat
+  when:
+    - apt_manage_sources_list|bool
+    - ansible_facts['distribution'] == 'Debian'
+    - (ansible_facts['distribution_major_version'] | int) >= 13
+  tags:
+    - apt-configuration
+
 - name: (apt.yml) backup legacy /etc/apt/sources.list before deb822 migration (Debian >= 13)
   copy:
     src: /etc/apt/sources.list
@@ -49,9 +60,7 @@
     - apt_manage_sources_list|bool
     - ansible_facts['distribution'] == 'Debian'
     - (ansible_facts['distribution_major_version'] | int) >= 13
-  failed_when:
-    - apt_sources_list_backup.failed
-    - "'No such file or directory' not in (apt_sources_list_backup.msg | default(''))"
+    - apt_sources_list_stat.stat.exists | default(false)
   register: apt_sources_list_backup
   tags:
     - apt-configuration