diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
index 15e8e3a9a00..11c02796e3f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/template.py
@@ -92,7 +92,9 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         local_checksum = utils.checksum_s(resultant)
         remote_checksum = self.runner._remote_checksum(conn, tmp, dest, inject)
 
-        if remote_checksum in ('0', '1', '2', '3', '4'):
+        if remote_checksum in ('0', '2', '3', '4'):
+            # Note: 1 means the file is not present which is fine; template
+            # will create it
             result = dict(failed=True, msg="failed to checksum remote file."
                         " Checksum error code: %s" % remote_checksum)
             return ReturnData(conn=conn, comm_ok=True, result=result)