diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index fe50b10..43ec09c 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@
     - name: "Ensure root password is set"
       ansible.builtin.shell: passwd -S root | grep -E "(Password set, SHA512 crypt|Password locked)"
       changed_when: false
+      failed_when: prelim_root_passwd_set.rc not in [ 0, 1 ]
       register: prelim_root_passwd_set
 
     - name: "Ensure root password is set"