diff --git a/module_renderer.py b/module_renderer.py
index 1e5f63b..b8b944b 100644
--- a/module_renderer.py
+++ b/module_renderer.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def _ensure_module_folders_exist(self, module_name: str, first_render_frid: str)
                 f"  codeplain {module_name}{plain_file.PLAIN_SOURCE_FILE_EXTENSION}"
             )
 
-        if not os.path.exists(conformance_tests_path):
+        if not os.path.exists(conformance_tests_path) and self.args.render_conformance_tests:
             raise MissingPreviousFunctionalitiesError(
                 f"Cannot start rendering from functionality {first_render_frid} for module '{module_name}' because the conformance tests folder does not exist.\n\n"
                 f"To fix this, please render the module from the beginning by running:\n"