diff --git a/roles/container-engine/validate-container-engine/tasks/main.yml b/roles/container-engine/validate-container-engine/tasks/main.yml
index e6e2ac202..d5b28c29c 100644
--- a/roles/container-engine/validate-container-engine/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/container-engine/validate-container-engine/tasks/main.yml
@@ -80,14 +80,12 @@
         apply:
           tags:
             - pre-remove
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Stop kubelet
       service:
         name: kubelet
         state: stopped
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Remove Containerd
       import_role:
         name: container-engine/containerd
@@ -109,14 +107,12 @@
         apply:
           tags:
             - pre-remove
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Stop kubelet
       service:
         name: kubelet
         state: stopped
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Remove Docker
       import_role:
         name: container-engine/docker
@@ -137,14 +133,12 @@
         apply:
           tags:
             - pre-remove
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Stop kubelet
       service:
         name: kubelet
         state: stopped
-      when:
-        - kubelet_systemd_unit_exists
+      when: kubelet_systemd_unit_exists.stat.exists
     - name: Remove CRI-O
       import_role:
         name: container-engine/cri-o