diff --git a/src/clean-pip.ts b/src/clean-pip.ts
index fa0d6770..2e01ada0 100644
--- a/src/clean-pip.ts
+++ b/src/clean-pip.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@ export async function cleanPipPackages() {
     ]);
     core.info('Successfully cleaned up pip packages');
   } catch (error) {
-    core.setFailed(`Failed to clean up pip packages.`);
+    core.setFailed('Failed to clean up pip packages.');
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/post-python.ts b/src/post-python.ts
index 02600b66..1fb96556 100644
--- a/src/post-python.ts
+++ b/src/post-python.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,17 @@ import {State} from './cache-distributions/cache-distributor';
 export async function run(earlyExit?: boolean) {
   try {
     const cache = core.getInput('cache');
-    if (cache) {
-      await saveCache(cache);
+    // Optionally clean up pip packages after the post-action if requested.
+    // This mirrors the `preclean` behavior used in the main action.
+    const postcleanPip = core.getBooleanInput('postclean');
+
+    if (cache || postcleanPip) {
+      if (cache) {
+        await saveCache(cache);
+      }
+      if (postcleanPip) {
+        await cleanPipPackages();
+      }
       // Preserve early-exit behavior for the post action when requested.
       // Some CI setups may want the post step to exit early to avoid long-running
       // processes during cleanup. If enabled, exit with success immediately.
@@ -20,12 +29,6 @@ export async function run(earlyExit?: boolean) {
         process.exit(0);
       }
     }
-    // Optionally clean up pip packages after the post-action if requested.
-    // This mirrors the `preclean-pip` behavior used in the main action.
-    const postcleanPip = core.getBooleanInput('postclean');
-    if (postcleanPip) {
-      await cleanPipPackages();
-    }
   } catch (error) {
     const err = error as Error;
     core.setFailed(err.message);