diff --git a/roles/svc-storage-nfs-server/tasks/01_prepare.yml b/roles/svc-storage-nfs-server/tasks/01_prepare.yml
index d265346729..5961e5ae11 100644
--- a/roles/svc-storage-nfs-server/tasks/01_prepare.yml
+++ b/roles/svc-storage-nfs-server/tasks/01_prepare.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,14 @@
     group: root
     mode: "0755"
 
+- name: "📁 Pre-create the {{ DIR_BACKUPS }} mount point in the shared state, so no two clients create it at once"
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ [STORAGE_NFS_STATE_PATH, DIR_BACKUPS | relpath(DIR_VAR_LIB)] | path_join }}"
+    state: directory
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: "0755"
+
 - name: "✅ Assert the state subdir is strictly nested under the export base"
   ansible.builtin.assert:
     that: