diff --git a/tasks/motd.yaml b/tasks/motd.yaml
index ac24724..0d14723 100644
--- a/tasks/motd.yaml
+++ b/tasks/motd.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
         path: "{{ item.path }}"
         state: "absent"
       loop: "{{ old_motd.files }}"
-      when: "old_motd.files|length > 0"
+      when:
+        - "old_motd.files|length > 0"
+        - "ansible_os_family == 'Debian'"
 
     # remove old motd files
     - name: "motd - cleanup main file"