diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/73840_apt-policy-rc-d.yml b/changelogs/fragments/73840_apt-policy-rc-d.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4c260ce8c11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/73840_apt-policy-rc-d.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - >-
+    apt - fix policy_rc_d parameter throwing an exception when restoring
+    original file (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/66211)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/apt.py b/lib/ansible/modules/apt.py
index 0300d866c31..d6b038acc63 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/apt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/apt.py
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ class PolicyRcD(object):
             try:
                 shutil.move(os.path.join(self.backup_dir, 'policy-rc.d'),
                             '/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d')
-                os.rmdir(self.tmpdir_name)
+                os.rmdir(self.backup_dir)
             except Exception:
                 self.m.fail_json(msg="Fail to move back %s to /usr/sbin/policy-rc.d"
                                      % os.path.join(self.backup_dir, 'policy-rc.d'))