diff --git a/playbooks/bootstrap.yml b/playbooks/bootstrap.yml
index b4b7c57..bdb6f21 100644
--- a/playbooks/bootstrap.yml
+++ b/playbooks/bootstrap.yml
@@ -91,18 +91,6 @@
         mode: "0600"
       no_log: true
 
-    - name: "[pre] test SSH reachability to target as root"
-      ansible.builtin.command: >-
-        ansible {{ target | default('racknerd1') }} -i {{ inventory_file }}
-        -m ansible.builtin.ping
-        -e "ansible_user={{ connect_user | default('root') }}"
-        -e "ansible_password={{ pc_root_pass }}"
-        -e "ansible_ssh_common_args=-o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new"
-      register: reach
-      changed_when: false
-      failed_when: reach.rc != 0
-      no_log: true
-
     - name: "[pre] PASSED"
       ansible.builtin.debug:
         msg: "Precheck OK — Infisical + secrets valid, {{ target | default('racknerd1') }} reachable as root."