diff --git a/cloudinit/subp.py b/cloudinit/subp.py
index ca8be1057b9..c94b44e7db1 100644
--- a/cloudinit/subp.py
+++ b/cloudinit/subp.py
@@ -379,13 +379,15 @@ def runparts(dirp, skip_no_exist=True, exe_prefix=None):
             except ProcessExecutionError as e:
                 LOG.debug(e)
                 failed.append(exe_name)
-        else:
+        elif os.path.isfile(exe_path):
             LOG.warning(
                 "skipping %s as its not executable "
                 "or the underlying file system is mounted without "
                 "executable permissions.",
                 exe_path,
             )
+        else:
+            LOG.debug("Not executing special file [%s]", exe_path)
 
     if failed and attempted:
         raise RuntimeError(