diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/virt.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/virt.py
index 80b8e2558eb..b59c7ed3de3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/virt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/misc/virt.py
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ import sys
 try:
     import libvirt
 except ImportError:
-    print "failed=True msg='libvirt python module unavailable'"
-    sys.exit(1)
+    HAS_VIRT = False
+else:
+    HAS_VIRT = True
 
 ALL_COMMANDS = []
 VM_COMMANDS = ['create','status', 'start', 'stop', 'pause', 'unpause',
@@ -481,6 +482,11 @@ def main():
         xml = dict(),
     ))
 
+    if not HAS_VIRT:
+        module.fail_json(
+            msg='The `libvirt` module is not importable. Check the requirements.'
+        )
+
     rc = VIRT_SUCCESS
     try:
         rc, result = core(module)