diff --git a/backend/local/backend_apply_test.go b/backend/local/backend_apply_test.go
index 73c384d42474..adf7c08fe22c 100644
--- a/backend/local/backend_apply_test.go
+++ b/backend/local/backend_apply_test.go
@@ -241,6 +241,30 @@ test_instance.foo:
 	assertBackendStateUnlocked(t, b)
 }
 
+func TestLocal_applyRefreshFalse(t *testing.T) {
+	b, cleanup := TestLocal(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	p := TestLocalProvider(t, b, "test", planFixtureSchema())
+	testStateFile(t, b.StatePath, testPlanState())
+
+	op, configCleanup := testOperationApply(t, "./testdata/plan")
+	defer configCleanup()
+
+	run, err := b.Operation(context.Background(), op)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %s", err)
+	}
+	<-run.Done()
+	if run.Result != backend.OperationSuccess {
+		t.Fatalf("plan operation failed")
+	}
+
+	if p.ReadResourceCalled {
+		t.Fatal("ReadResource should not be called")
+	}
+}
+
 type backendWithFailingState struct {
 	Local
 }
diff --git a/backend/local/backend_local.go b/backend/local/backend_local.go
index b4d6002c0f71..1b67939af09c 100644
--- a/backend/local/backend_local.go
+++ b/backend/local/backend_local.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func (b *Local) context(op *backend.Operation) (*terraform.Context, *configload.
 	opts.Targets = op.Targets
 	opts.UIInput = op.UIIn
 
-	opts.SkipRefresh = op.Type == backend.OperationTypePlan && !op.PlanRefresh
+	opts.SkipRefresh = op.Type != backend.OperationTypeRefresh && !op.PlanRefresh
 	if opts.SkipRefresh {
 		log.Printf("[DEBUG] backend/local: skipping refresh of managed resources")
 	}