diff --git a/playbooks/package-afs-centos/post.yaml b/playbooks/package-afs-centos/post.yaml
index dbebbbae..7bde3e05 100644
--- a/playbooks/package-afs-centos/post.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/package-afs-centos/post.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 - hosts: all
   tasks:
 
+    # Note we always create the artifacts dir so that the openstack artifacts
+    # publishing playbook is happy.
+    - name: Ensure artifacts directory exists
+      file:
+        state: directory
+        path: '{{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/artifacts/package-afs-centos7'
+      delegate_to: localhost
+
     # We only build an RPM if one doesn't exist for the desired version.
     - name: Check for built RPMs
       stat:
@@ -10,13 +18,6 @@
         get_md5: false
       register: rpms_exist
 
-    - name: Ensure artifacts directory exists
-      when: rpms_exist.stat.exists
-      file:
-        state: directory
-        path: '{{ zuul.executor.work_root }}/artifacts/package-afs-centos7'
-      delegate_to: localhost
-
     - name: Copy RPMs back for publication
       when: rpms_exist.stat.exists
       synchronize: