diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_vxlan_vtep_vni.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_vxlan_vtep_vni.py
index 263ab7154c..68d633563f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_vxlan_vtep_vni.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_vxlan_vtep_vni.py
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ def main():
     candidate = CustomNetworkConfig(indent=3)
     if state == 'present':
         state_present(module, existing, proposed, candidate)
-    elif state == 'absent':
+    elif existing and state == 'absent':
         state_absent(module, existing, proposed, candidate)
 
     if candidate: