diff --git a/library/blivet.py b/library/blivet.py
index a47e6329..82a4370f 100644
--- a/library/blivet.py
+++ b/library/blivet.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def _reformat(self):
         if self._device.format.type == fmt.type:
             return
 
-        if safe_mode:
+        if safe_mode and self._device.format.type is None and self._device.format.name != get_format().name:
             raise BlivetAnsibleError("cannot remove existing formatting on volume '%s' in safe mode" % self._volume['name'])
 
         if self._device.format.status: