diff --git a/library/lineinfile b/library/lineinfile
index 060256174b7..abec9cc3cfa 100755
--- a/library/lineinfile
+++ b/library/lineinfile
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def present(module, dest, regexp, line, insertafter, create, backup):
         changed = True
 
     if changed:
-        if backup:
+        if backup and os.path.exists(dest):
             module.backup_local(dest)
         f = open(dest, 'wb')
         f.writelines(lines)