diff --git a/test/sanity/validate-modules/main.py b/test/sanity/validate-modules/main.py
index 4f800e50e6..32f34fedb0 100755
--- a/test/sanity/validate-modules/main.py
+++ b/test/sanity/validate-modules/main.py
@@ -1374,10 +1374,14 @@ class ModuleValidator(Validator):
 
             # See if current version => deprecated.removed_in, ie, should be docs only
             if docs and 'deprecated' in docs and docs['deprecated'] is not None:
-                removed_in = docs.get('deprecated')['removed_in']
-                strict_ansible_version = StrictVersion('.'.join(ansible_version.split('.')[:2]))
-                end_of_deprecation_should_be_docs_only = strict_ansible_version >= removed_in
-                # FIXME if +2 then file should be empty? - maybe add this only in the future
+                try:
+                    removed_in = StrictVersion(str(docs.get('deprecated')['removed_in']))
+                except ValueError:
+                    end_of_deprecation_should_be_docs_only = False
+                else:
+                    strict_ansible_version = StrictVersion('.'.join(ansible_version.split('.')[:2]))
+                    end_of_deprecation_should_be_docs_only = strict_ansible_version >= removed_in
+                    # FIXME if +2 then file should be empty? - maybe add this only in the future
 
         if self._python_module() and not self._just_docs() and not end_of_deprecation_should_be_docs_only:
             self._validate_ansible_module_call(docs)