diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_common.py b/lib/ansible/module_common.py
index e95dd0d64c..32bba60164 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_common.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_common.py
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
         for d in opt_dirs:
             if d is not None and os.path.exists(d):
                 paths.append(d)
-        paths += os.environ.get('PATH').split(':')
+        paths += os.environ.get('PATH', '').split(':')
         bin_path = None
         # mangle PATH to include /sbin dirs
         for p in sbin_paths: