diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/template.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/template.py
index 109f3e80c0b..d134f80a8df 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/template.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
         diff = {}
         new_module_args = self._task.args.copy()
 
-        if force and local_checksum != remote_checksum:
+        if (remote_checksum == '1') or (force and local_checksum != remote_checksum):
 
             result['changed'] = True
             # if showing diffs, we need to get the remote value