diff --git a/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
index 14e71c0f6cd..55346166b6a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ class VaultEditor:
 
         # Do nothing if the content has not changed
         if existing_data == tmpdata and not force_save:
+            os.remove(tmp_path)
             return
 
         # create new vault