diff --git a/backend/remote/backend.go b/backend/remote/backend.go
index 3e9173e404..8ff64e34a7 100644
--- a/backend/remote/backend.go
+++ b/backend/remote/backend.go
@@ -694,19 +694,22 @@ func (b *Remote) Operation(ctx context.Context, op *backend.Operation) (*backend
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Terraform remote version conflicts are not a concern for operations. We
+	// are in one of three states:
+	//
+	// - Running remotely, in which case the local version is irrelevant;
+	// - Workspace configured for local operations, in which case the remote
+	//   version is meaningless;
+	// - Forcing local operations with a remote backend, which should only
+	//   happen in the Terraform Cloud worker, in which case the Terraform
+	//   versions by definition match.
+	b.IgnoreVersionConflict()
+
 	// Check if we need to use the local backend to run the operation.
 	if b.forceLocal || !w.Operations {
-		if !w.Operations {
-			// Workspace is explicitly configured for local operations, so its
-			// configured Terraform version is meaningless
-			b.IgnoreVersionConflict()
-		}
 		return b.local.Operation(ctx, op)
 	}
 
-	// Running remotely so we don't care about version conflicts
-	b.IgnoreVersionConflict()
-
 	// Set the remote workspace name.
 	op.Workspace = w.Name
 
diff --git a/backend/remote/backend_apply_test.go b/backend/remote/backend_apply_test.go
index 40262aab76..cc933b4afa 100644
--- a/backend/remote/backend_apply_test.go
+++ b/backend/remote/backend_apply_test.go
@@ -1298,12 +1298,11 @@ func TestRemote_applyVersionCheck(t *testing.T) {
 			remoteVersion: "0.13.5",
 			hasOperations: false,
 		},
-		"error if force local, has remote operations, different versions": {
+		"force local with remote operations and different versions is acceptable": {
 			localVersion:  "0.14.0",
-			remoteVersion: "0.13.5",
+			remoteVersion: "0.14.0-acme-provider-bundle",
 			forceLocal:    true,
 			hasOperations: true,
-			wantErr:       `Remote workspace Terraform version "0.13.5" does not match local Terraform version "0.14.0"`,
 		},
 		"no error if versions are identical": {
 			localVersion:  "0.14.0",