diff --git a/tasks/ssh_config.yml b/tasks/ssh_config.yml
index 550177c..9a69a8a 100644
--- a/tasks/ssh_config.yml
+++ b/tasks/ssh_config.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@
       when:
         - ansible_distribution_major_version == '8'
 
+    - name: Ensure sshd_config.d dir exists
+      ansible.builtin.file:
+        state: directory
+        path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d"
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: '0700'
+      notify: restart_sshd
+
     - name: Ensure an empty file exists
       ansible.builtin.template:
         state: touch
@@ -36,15 +45,6 @@
       when:
         - ansible_distribution_major_version == '8'
 
-    - name: Ensure sshd_config.d dir exists
-      ansible.builtin.file:
-        state: directory
-        path: "/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d"
-        owner: root
-        group: root
-        mode: '0700'
-      notify: restart_sshd
-
     - name: Default Modular Configuration
       when:
         - (ansible_facts['distribution'] == 'Fedora') or