diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_networkinterface.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_networkinterface.py
index 453ea3a54c..7b8f50eff6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_networkinterface.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_networkinterface.py
@@ -499,9 +499,13 @@ class AzureRMNetworkInterface(AzureRMModuleBase):
 
         if changed:
             if self.state == 'present':
-                subnet = self.get_subnet(virtual_network_resource_group, virtual_network_name, self.subnet_name)
-                if not subnet:
-                    self.fail('subnet {0} is not exist'.format(self.subnet_name))
+                subnet = self.network_models.SubResource(
+                    '/subscriptions/{0}/resourceGroups/{1}/providers/Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/{2}/subnets/{3}'.format(
+                        self.subscription_id,
+                        virtual_network_resource_group,
+                        virtual_network_name,
+                        self.subnet_name))
+
                 nic_ip_configurations = [
                     self.network_models.NetworkInterfaceIPConfiguration(
                         private_ip_allocation_method=ip_config.get('private_ip_allocation_method'),
@@ -573,13 +577,6 @@ class AzureRMNetworkInterface(AzureRMModuleBase):
         except Exception as exc:
             return None
 
-    def get_subnet(self, resource_group, vnet_name, subnet_name):
-        self.log("Fetching subnet {0} in virtual network {1}".format(subnet_name, vnet_name))
-        try:
-            return self.network_client.subnets.get(resource_group, vnet_name, subnet_name)
-        except Exception as exc:
-            return None
-
     def get_security_group(self, name):
         self.log("Fetching security group {0}".format(name))
         try: