diff --git a/roles/locales/tasks/main.yml b/roles/locales/tasks/main.yml
index 28b0600d6..8d9d0bfe3 100644
--- a/roles/locales/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/locales/tasks/main.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@
         label: "{{ item.line }}"
       when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
 
+    - name: Check that the /etc/locale.conf exists
+      stat:
+        path: /etc/locale.conf
+      register: locale_conf
+      when: ansible_os_family == "RedHat"
+
     - name: Set locale "{{ locale }}" into /etc/locale.conf
       lineinfile:
         dest: "/etc/locale.conf"
@@ -69,7 +75,7 @@
         - {regexp: '^LC_ALL=', line: 'LC_ALL={{ locale }}'}
       loop_control:
         label: "{{ item.line }}"
-      when: ansible_os_family == "RedHat"
+      when: ansible_os_family == "RedHat" and locale_conf.stat.exists
 
     - name: Set locale "{{ locale }}" into /etc/environment
       lineinfile: