diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8d7fc23..ce0a369 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,5 +33,5 @@ syntax:
 
 
 test:
-	$(ANSIBLE_PLAYBOOK) --diff $(PLAYBOOK) -e @$(EXAMPLE_VARS) -e workspace_root=$(TEST_WORKSPACE_ROOT) -e devcontainer_sync_create_missing=true -e devcontainer_sync_backup=false
+	$(ANSIBLE_PLAYBOOK) --diff $(PLAYBOOK) -e @$(EXAMPLE_VARS) -e workspace_root=$(TEST_WORKSPACE_ROOT) -e devcontainer_sync_create_missing=true -e devcontainer_sync_backup=false -e devcontainer_sync_backup_existing_dir=false
 	find $(TEST_WORKSPACE_ROOT) -type f ! -path $(TEST_WORKSPACE_ROOT)/golden_output -print0 | sort -z | xargs -0r cat > $(TEST_WORKSPACE_ROOT)/golden_output
diff --git a/group_vars/all.example.yml b/group_vars/all.example.yml
index 5429059..2e312a6 100644
--- a/group_vars/all.example.yml
+++ b/group_vars/all.example.yml
@@ -65,3 +65,4 @@ devcontainers:
     install: |
       sudo apt update
       sudo apt install -y --no-install-recommends ansible
+      echo "foobar"
diff --git a/roles/devcontainer_sync/defaults/main.yml b/roles/devcontainer_sync/defaults/main.yml
index a055b00..2f7e954 100644
--- a/roles/devcontainer_sync/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/devcontainer_sync/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 ---
 devcontainer_sync_create_missing: false
 devcontainer_sync_backup: true
+devcontainer_sync_backup_existing_dir: true
 devcontainer_sync_extra_files_root: "{{ playbook_dir }}/files"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/devcontainer_sync/tasks/main.yml b/roles/devcontainer_sync/tasks/main.yml
index c5b587a..9443a98 100644
--- a/roles/devcontainer_sync/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/devcontainer_sync/tasks/main.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
     label: "{{ item.item.path | dirname }}"
     index_var: devcontainer_sync_target_index
   when:
+    - devcontainer_sync_backup_existing_dir | bool
     - item.stat.exists
     - >-
       (devcontainer_sync_devcontainer_render_preview.results[devcontainer_sync_target_index].changed | default(false))
diff --git a/tests/golden_output b/tests/golden_output
index 4acf737..db779fb 100644
--- a/tests/golden_output
+++ b/tests/golden_output
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ curl -sL -o cfr.jar 'https://www.benf.org/other/cfr/cfr-0.152.jar'
 #!/bin/bash
 sudo apt update
 sudo apt install -y --no-install-recommends ansible
+echo "foobar"
 {
 	// Managed by devcontainer-sync. Edit group_vars/all.yml instead.
 	"name": "rust-example",
diff --git a/tests/python-example/.devcontainer/install.sh b/tests/python-example/.devcontainer/install.sh
index f114e0d..d7a71ab 100755
--- a/tests/python-example/.devcontainer/install.sh
+++ b/tests/python-example/.devcontainer/install.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 sudo apt update
 sudo apt install -y --no-install-recommends ansible
+echo "foobar"