diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/ufw.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/ufw.py
index 89376e7c22..6b7fb6a765 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/ufw.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/system/ufw.py
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ def main():
     if len(commands) < 1:
         module.fail_json(msg="Not any of the command arguments %s given" % commands)
 
-    if('interface' in params and 'direction' not in params):
+    if('interface' in params and params['direction'] is None):
       module.fail_json(msg="Direction must be specified when creating a rule on an interface")
 
     # Ensure ufw is available