diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
index c4d7858e3ea..fa354219aed 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
@@ -768,9 +768,10 @@ class PyVmomiHelper(PyVmomi):
                 # VDS switch
                 pg_obj = find_obj(self.content, [vim.dvs.DistributedVirtualPortgroup], network_devices[key]['name'])
 
-                if (nic.device.backing and
-                        (nic.device.backing.port.portgroupKey != pg_obj.key or
-                         nic.device.backing.port.switchUuid != pg_obj.config.distributedVirtualSwitch.uuid)):
+                if (nic.device.backing and not hasattr(nic.device.backing, 'port')):
+                    nic_change_detected = True
+                elif (nic.device.backing and (nic.device.backing.port.portgroupKey != pg_obj.key or
+                      nic.device.backing.port.switchUuid != pg_obj.config.distributedVirtualSwitch.uuid)):
                     nic_change_detected = True
 
                 dvs_port_connection = vim.dvs.PortConnection()