diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gcp_storage_object.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gcp_storage_object.py
index fc3c304733eebe..f57a08d9acb749 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gcp_storage_object.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/google/gcp_storage_object.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def main():
         module.fail_json(msg="File does not exist on disk")
 
     # Check if we'll be overwriting files.
-    if not module.params['overwrite']:
+    if remote_object and not module.params['overwrite']:
         remote_object['changed'] = False
         if module.params['action'] == 'download' and local_file_exists:
             # If files differ, throw an error