diff --git a/borgmatic/borg/create.py b/borgmatic/borg/create.py
index aa9e6059..84e7d80f 100644
--- a/borgmatic/borg/create.py
+++ b/borgmatic/borg/create.py
@@ -137,8 +137,10 @@ def validate_planned_backup_paths(
         # Return the subset of output paths that are special files but *not* contained within the
         # borgmatic runtime directory. The intent is to skip runtime paths that borgmatic uses for its
         # own bookkeeping, instead focusing on user-configured paths.
-        if not any_parent_directories(path, (borgmatic_runtime_directory,)) and special_file(
-            path, working_directory
+        if (
+            find_special_files
+            and not any_parent_directories(path, (borgmatic_runtime_directory,))
+            and special_file(path, working_directory)
         ):
             special_paths.append(path)
 
@@ -273,7 +275,6 @@ def make_base_create_command(  # noqa: PLR0912
 
     logger.debug('Checking file paths Borg plans to include')
 
-    find_special_files = bool(stream_processes)
     special_file_paths = validate_planned_backup_paths(
         dry_run,
         create_flags + create_positional_arguments,
@@ -282,10 +283,10 @@ def make_base_create_command(  # noqa: PLR0912
         local_path,
         working_directory,
         borgmatic_runtime_directory=borgmatic_runtime_directory,
-        find_special_files=find_special_files,
+        find_special_files=bool(stream_processes),
     )
 
-    if find_special_files and config.get('read_special') is False:
+    if stream_processes and config.get('read_special') is False:
         logger.warning(
             'Ignoring configured "read_special" value of false, as true is needed for database hooks.',
         )
diff --git a/tests/unit/borg/test_create.py b/tests/unit/borg/test_create.py
index 377a84bd..a2d14b3a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/borg/test_create.py
+++ b/tests/unit/borg/test_create.py
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@ def test_create_archive_calls_borg_with_working_directory():
     )
 
 
-def test_validate_planned_backup_paths_finds_special_files():
+def test_validate_planned_backup_paths_returns_special_files():
     flexmock(module.flags).should_receive('omit_flag').replace_with(
         lambda arguments, flag: arguments,
     )
@@ -1872,4 +1872,46 @@ def test_validate_planned_backup_paths_finds_special_files():
         local_path=None,
         working_directory=None,
         borgmatic_runtime_directory='/run/borgmatic',
+        find_special_files=True,
     ) == ('/dev/foo', '/dev/baz')
+
+
+def test_validate_planned_backup_paths_without_find_special_files_ignores_special_files():
+    flexmock(module.flags).should_receive('omit_flag').replace_with(
+        lambda arguments, flag: arguments,
+    )
+    flexmock(module.flags).should_receive('omit_flag_and_value').replace_with(
+        lambda arguments, flag: arguments,
+    )
+    flexmock(module.environment).should_receive('make_environment').and_return(None)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('execute_command_and_capture_output').and_yield(
+        '+ /dev/foo',
+        '- /run/borgmatic/bar',
+        '- /dev/baz',
+        '- /quux',
+    )
+    flexmock(module.os.path).should_receive('exists').and_return(True)
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('any_parent_directories').replace_with(
+        lambda path, candidates: any(path.startswith(parent) for parent in candidates)
+    )
+    flexmock(module).should_receive('special_file').never()
+
+    assert (
+        module.validate_planned_backup_paths(
+            dry_run=False,
+            create_command=('borg', 'create'),
+            config={},
+            patterns=(
+                module.borgmatic.borg.pattern.Pattern('/dev/foo'),
+                module.borgmatic.borg.pattern.Pattern(
+                    '/run/borgmatic/bar', module.borgmatic.borg.pattern.Pattern_type.ROOT
+                ),
+                module.borgmatic.borg.pattern.Pattern('/dev/baz'),
+            ),
+            local_path=None,
+            working_directory=None,
+            borgmatic_runtime_directory='/run/borgmatic',
+            find_special_files=False,
+        )
+        == ()
+    )