diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 4a9d7dc..b4c15eb 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@
 - name: Wait until docker daemon is available
   command: docker info
   register: r_docker_info
-  until: r_docker_info.rc == 0
+  # need a special case here, or this always fails in check mode.
+  until: r_docker_info|skipped or r_docker_info.rc == 0
   retries: "{{ docker_daemon_startup_timeout_sec }}"
   delay: 1