Force local stat for third-party prep tasks

roles/environment/tasks/main.yml

@@ -153,19 +153,27 @@
                 mode: "0644"
 
     - name: Check for third-party preparation tasks
-      ansible.builtin.stat:
-        path: >-
-          {{
-            thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path
-            if thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path | regex_search('^/')
-            else playbook_dir + '/' + thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path
-          }}
-      delegate_to: localhost
-      connection: local
-      become: false
       run_once: true
-      register: environment_thirdparty_tasks_stat
+      become: false
-      changed_when: false
+      delegate_to: localhost
+      vars:
+        ansible_connection: local
+      block:
+        - name: Resolve third-party preparation task path
+          ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+            environment_thirdparty_tasks_path: >-
+              {{
+                thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path
+                if thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path | regex_search('^/')
+                else playbook_dir + '/' + thirdparty_preparation_tasks_path
+              }}
+          changed_when: false
+
+        - name: Stat third-party preparation tasks
+          ansible.builtin.stat:
+            path: "{{ environment_thirdparty_tasks_path }}"
+          register: environment_thirdparty_tasks_stat
+          changed_when: false
 
     - name: Run third-party preparation tasks
       when: