diff --git a/tasks/users.yml b/tasks/users.yml
index 71cc189..5c32362 100644
--- a/tasks/users.yml
+++ b/tasks/users.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ---
 - name: Check if robert user exists
-  getent:
-    database: passwd
-    key: robert
-    fail_key: false
+  ansible.builtin.command:
+    cmd: id -u robert
   register: robert_user
+  changed_when: false
+  failed_when: false
 
 - name: Create robert user
   user:
@@ -14,13 +14,21 @@
     shell: /bin/bash
     create_home: yes
     password: "{{ robert_password_hash }}"
-  when: robert_user.ansible_facts.getent_passwd.robert is not defined
+  when: robert_user.rc != 0
 
 - name: create ansible user
   user:
     name: ansible
     system: yes
 
+- name: Ensure sudoers directory exists
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /etc/sudoers.d
+    state: directory
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: '0750'
+
 - name: copy sudoers_ansible
   copy:
     src: files/sudoers_ansible