diff --git a/tasks/squid.yml b/tasks/squid.yml
index 15c9499..43ecbe9 100644
--- a/tasks/squid.yml
+++ b/tasks/squid.yml
@@ -18,27 +18,13 @@
     setype: squid_cache_t
   when: cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir is defined
 
-- name: Check whether the cache directories exist
-  ansible.builtin.stat:
-    path: "{{ cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir.dir }}/00"
-  register: cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir_stat
-  when: cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir is defined
-
 - name: Create the cache directories for the first time
-  when: cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir is defined and not cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir_stat.stat.exists
-  block:
-
-  - name: Ensure squid is stopped
-    ansible.builtin.service:
-      name: "{{ cvmfs_squid_service_name }}"
-      state: stopped
-
-  - name: Create the cache directories
-    become: true
-    become_user: "{{ cvmfs_squid_user }}"
-    ansible.builtin.command: squid -z
-    args:
-      creates: "{{ cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir.dir }}/00"
+  become: true
+  become_user: "{{ cvmfs_squid_user }}"
+  ansible.builtin.command: squid -z
+  args:
+    creates: "{{ cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir.dir }}/00"
+  when: cvmfs_stratum1_cache_dir is defined
 
 - name: Ensure squid is enabled and started
   ansible.builtin.service: