diff --git a/src/borg/archiver/create_cmd.py b/src/borg/archiver/create_cmd.py
index 741e363c5..c4eb2a14a 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver/create_cmd.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver/create_cmd.py
@@ -442,8 +442,11 @@ class CreateMixIn:
                                         )
                                 self.print_file_status("x", path)
                             return
-                    if not recurse_excluded_dir and not dry_run:
-                        status = fso.process_dir_with_fd(path=path, fd=child_fd, st=st)
+                    if not recurse_excluded_dir:
+                        if not dry_run:
+                            status = fso.process_dir_with_fd(path=path, fd=child_fd, st=st)
+                        else:
+                            status = "-"
                     if recurse:
                         with backup_io("scandir"):
                             entries = helpers.scandir_inorder(path=path, fd=child_fd)