diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/eos/eos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/eos/eos.py
index 4dcb1d4d8a6..61a98e0c407 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/eos/eos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/eos/eos.py
@@ -135,7 +135,11 @@ class Cli:
             return self._device_configs[cmd]
         except KeyError:
             conn = self._get_connection()
-            out = conn.get_config(filter=flags)
+            try:
+                out = conn.get_config(filter=flags)
+            except ConnectionError as exc:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
             cfg = to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
             self._device_configs[cmd] = cfg
             return cfg
@@ -144,7 +148,11 @@ class Cli:
         """Run list of commands on remote device and return results
         """
         connection = self._get_connection()
-        return connection.run_commands(commands=commands, check_rc=check_rc)
+        try:
+            response = connection.run_commands(commands=commands, check_rc=check_rc)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+        return response
 
     def load_config(self, commands, commit=False, replace=False):
         """Loads the config commands onto the remote device
@@ -164,8 +172,12 @@ class Cli:
 
     def get_diff(self, candidate=None, running=None, diff_match='line', diff_ignore_lines=None, path=None, diff_replace='line'):
         conn = self._get_connection()
-        return conn.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=diff_match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
-                             diff_replace=diff_replace)
+        try:
+            diff = conn.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=diff_match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
+                                 diff_replace=diff_replace)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+        return diff
 
 
 class Eapi:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/ios/ios.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/ios/ios.py
index d9318cd024f..4ccee0fbf66 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/ios/ios.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/ios/ios.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 # USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #
 import json
+
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import env_fallback, return_values
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.utils import to_list, ComplexList
@@ -81,8 +82,10 @@ def get_connection(module):
 def get_capabilities(module):
     if hasattr(module, '_ios_capabilities'):
         return module._ios_capabilities
-
-    capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    try:
+        capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     module._ios_capabilities = json.loads(capabilities)
     return module._ios_capabilities
 
@@ -93,7 +96,10 @@ def check_args(module, warnings):
 
 def get_defaults_flag(module):
     connection = get_connection(module)
-    out = connection.get_defaults_flag()
+    try:
+        out = connection.get_defaults_flag()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     return to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
 
 
@@ -104,7 +110,10 @@ def get_config(module, flags=None):
         return _DEVICE_CONFIGS[flag_str]
     except KeyError:
         connection = get_connection(module)
-        out = connection.get_config(filter=flags)
+        try:
+            out = connection.get_config(filter=flags)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
         cfg = to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
         _DEVICE_CONFIGS[flag_str] = cfg
         return cfg
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
index c8068fb36be..69e9e20369c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
@@ -30,12 +30,11 @@ import json
 import re
 from difflib import Differ
 from copy import deepcopy
-from time import sleep
 
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text, to_bytes
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import env_fallback
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.utils import to_list
-from ansible.module_utils.connection import Connection
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import Connection, ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.netconf import NetconfConnection
 
 try:
@@ -126,8 +125,10 @@ def get_connection(module):
 def get_device_capabilities(module):
     if hasattr(module, 'capabilities'):
         return module.capabilities
-
-    capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    try:
+        capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     module.capabilities = json.loads(capabilities)
 
     return module.capabilities
@@ -317,7 +318,11 @@ def get_config_diff(module, running=None, candidate=None):
     conn = get_connection(module)
 
     if is_cliconf(module):
-        return conn.get('show commit changes diff')
+        try:
+            response = conn.get('show commit changes diff')
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+        return response
     elif is_netconf(module):
         if running and candidate:
             running_data = running.split("\n", 1)[1].rsplit("\n", 1)[0]
@@ -332,21 +337,26 @@ def get_config_diff(module, running=None, candidate=None):
 
 def discard_config(module):
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    conn.discard_changes()
+    try:
+        conn.discard_changes()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
 
 def commit_config(module, comment=None, confirmed=False, confirm_timeout=None,
                   persist=False, check=False, label=None):
     conn = get_connection(module)
     reply = None
-
-    if check:
-        reply = conn.validate()
-    else:
-        if is_netconf(module):
-            reply = conn.commit(confirmed=confirmed, timeout=confirm_timeout, persist=persist)
-        elif is_cliconf(module):
-            reply = conn.commit(comment=comment, label=label)
+    try:
+        if check:
+            reply = conn.validate()
+        else:
+            if is_netconf(module):
+                reply = conn.commit(confirmed=confirmed, timeout=confirm_timeout, persist=persist)
+            elif is_cliconf(module):
+                reply = conn.commit(comment=comment, label=label)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
     return reply
 
@@ -355,7 +365,10 @@ def get_oper(module, filter=None):
     conn = get_connection(module)
 
     if filter is not None:
-        response = conn.get(filter)
+        try:
+            response = conn.get(filter)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     else:
         return None
 
@@ -366,12 +379,14 @@ def get_config(module, config_filter=None, source='running'):
     conn = get_connection(module)
 
     # Note: Does not cache config in favour of latest config on every get operation.
-    out = conn.get_config(source=source, filter=config_filter)
-    if is_netconf(module):
-        out = to_xml(conn.get_config(source=source, filter=config_filter))
-
-    cfg = out.strip()
+    try:
+        out = conn.get_config(source=source, filter=config_filter)
+        if is_netconf(module):
+            out = to_xml(conn.get_config(source=source, filter=config_filter))
 
+        cfg = out.strip()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     return cfg
 
 
@@ -408,7 +423,7 @@ def load_config(module, command_filter, commit=False, replace=False,
             else:
                 discard_config(module)
         except ConnectionError as exc:
-            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc))
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
         finally:
             # conn.unlock(target = 'candidate')
             pass
@@ -418,40 +433,39 @@ def load_config(module, command_filter, commit=False, replace=False,
         cmd_filter = deepcopy(command_filter)
         # If label is present check if label already exist before entering
         # config mode
-        if label:
-            old_label = check_existing_commit_labels(conn, label)
-            if old_label:
-                module.fail_json(
-                    msg='commit label {%s} is already used for'
-                    ' an earlier commit, please choose a different label'
-                    ' and rerun task' % label
-                )
-        cmd_filter.insert(0, 'configure terminal')
-        if admin:
-            cmd_filter.insert(0, 'admin')
-
         try:
+            if label:
+                old_label = check_existing_commit_labels(conn, label)
+                if old_label:
+                    module.fail_json(
+                        msg='commit label {%s} is already used for'
+                        ' an earlier commit, please choose a different label'
+                        ' and rerun task' % label
+                    )
+            cmd_filter.insert(0, 'configure terminal')
+            if admin:
+                cmd_filter.insert(0, 'admin')
+
             conn.edit_config(cmd_filter)
+            if module._diff:
+                diff = get_config_diff(module)
+
+            if replace:
+                cmd = list()
+                cmd.append({'command': 'commit replace',
+                            'prompt': 'This commit will replace or remove the entire running configuration',
+                            'answer': 'yes'})
+                cmd.append('end')
+                conn.edit_config(cmd)
+            elif commit:
+                commit_config(module, comment=comment, label=label)
+                conn.edit_config('end')
+                if admin:
+                    conn.edit_config('exit')
+            else:
+                conn.discard_changes()
         except ConnectionError as exc:
-            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc))
-
-        if module._diff:
-            diff = get_config_diff(module)
-
-        if replace:
-            cmd = list()
-            cmd.append({'command': 'commit replace',
-                        'prompt': 'This commit will replace or remove the entire running configuration',
-                        'answer': 'yes'})
-            cmd.append('end')
-            conn.edit_config(cmd)
-        elif commit:
-            commit_config(module, comment=comment, label=label)
-            conn.edit_config('end')
-            if admin:
-                conn.edit_config('exit')
-        else:
-            conn.discard_changes()
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
     return diff
 
@@ -493,9 +507,15 @@ def run_command(module, commands):
 
 def copy_file(module, src, dst, proto='scp'):
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    conn.copy_file(source=src, destination=dst, proto=proto)
+    try:
+        conn.copy_file(source=src, destination=dst, proto=proto)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
 
 def get_file(module, src, dst, proto='scp'):
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    conn.get_file(source=src, destination=dst, proto=proto)
+    try:
+        conn.get_file(source=src, destination=dst, proto=proto)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/junos/junos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/junos/junos.py
index bf65ef97db0..02efb1744db 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/junos/junos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/junos/junos.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import env_fallback, return_values
-from ansible.module_utils.connection import Connection
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import Connection, ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.netconf import NetconfConnection
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@ def get_capabilities(module):
     if hasattr(module, '_junos_capabilities'):
         return module._junos_capabilities
 
-    capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    try:
+        capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     module._junos_capabilities = json.loads(capabilities)
     return module._junos_capabilities
 
@@ -125,12 +128,15 @@ def load_configuration(module, candidate=None, action='merge', rollback=None, fo
         module.fail_json(msg='format must be text when action is set')
 
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    if rollback is not None:
-        _validate_rollback_id(module, rollback)
-        obj = Element('load-configuration', {'rollback': str(rollback)})
-        conn.execute_rpc(tostring(obj))
-    else:
-        return conn.load_configuration(config=candidate, action=action, format=format)
+    try:
+        if rollback is not None:
+            _validate_rollback_id(module, rollback)
+            obj = Element('load-configuration', {'rollback': str(rollback)})
+            conn.execute_rpc(tostring(obj))
+        else:
+            return conn.load_configuration(config=candidate, action=action, format=format)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
 
 def get_configuration(module, compare=False, format='xml', rollback='0', filter=None):
@@ -138,26 +144,30 @@ def get_configuration(module, compare=False, format='xml', rollback='0', filter=
         module.fail_json(msg='invalid config format specified')
 
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    if compare:
-        xattrs = {'format': format}
-        _validate_rollback_id(module, rollback)
-        xattrs['compare'] = 'rollback'
-        xattrs['rollback'] = str(rollback)
-        reply = conn.execute_rpc(tostring(Element('get-configuration', xattrs)))
-    else:
-        reply = conn.get_configuration(format=format, filter=filter)
-
+    try:
+        if compare:
+            xattrs = {'format': format}
+            _validate_rollback_id(module, rollback)
+            xattrs['compare'] = 'rollback'
+            xattrs['rollback'] = str(rollback)
+            reply = conn.execute_rpc(tostring(Element('get-configuration', xattrs)))
+        else:
+            reply = conn.get_configuration(format=format, filter=filter)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     return reply
 
 
 def commit_configuration(module, confirm=False, check=False, comment=None, confirm_timeout=None, synchronize=False,
                          at_time=None, exit=False):
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    if check:
-        reply = conn.validate()
-    else:
-        reply = conn.commit(confirmed=confirm, timeout=confirm_timeout, comment=comment, synchronize=synchronize, at_time=at_time)
-
+    try:
+        if check:
+            reply = conn.validate()
+        else:
+            reply = conn.commit(confirmed=confirm, timeout=confirm_timeout, comment=comment, synchronize=synchronize, at_time=at_time)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
     return reply
 
 
@@ -165,17 +175,29 @@ def command(module, cmd, format='text', rpc_only=False):
     conn = get_connection(module)
     if rpc_only:
         cmd += ' | display xml rpc'
-    return conn.command(command=cmd, format=format)
+    try:
+        response = conn.command(command=cmd, format=format)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return response
 
 
-def lock_configuration(x):
-    conn = get_connection(x)
-    return conn.lock()
+def lock_configuration(module):
+    conn = get_connection(module)
+    try:
+        response = conn.lock()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return response
 
 
-def unlock_configuration(x):
-    conn = get_connection(x)
-    return conn.unlock()
+def unlock_configuration(module):
+    conn = get_connection(module)
+    try:
+        response = conn.unlock()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return response
 
 
 @contextmanager
@@ -189,7 +211,11 @@ def locked_config(module):
 
 def discard_changes(module):
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    return conn.discard_changes()
+    try:
+        response = conn.discard_changes()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return response
 
 
 def get_diff(module, rollback='0'):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/nxos/nxos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/nxos/nxos.py
index 304e36b8116..bc591c44566 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/nxos/nxos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/nxos/nxos.py
@@ -139,7 +139,11 @@ class Cli:
             return self._device_configs[cmd]
         except KeyError:
             connection = self._get_connection()
-            out = connection.get_config(filter=flags)
+            try:
+                out = connection.get_config(filter=flags)
+            except ConnectionError as exc:
+                self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
             cfg = to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
             self._device_configs[cmd] = cfg
             return cfg
@@ -188,8 +192,12 @@ class Cli:
 
     def get_diff(self, candidate=None, running=None, diff_match='line', diff_ignore_lines=None, path=None, diff_replace='line'):
         conn = self._get_connection()
-        return conn.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=diff_match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
-                             diff_replace=diff_replace)
+        try:
+            response = conn.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=diff_match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
+                                     diff_replace=diff_replace)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+        return response
 
     def get_capabilities(self):
         """Returns platform info of the remove device
@@ -198,7 +206,10 @@ class Cli:
             return self._module._capabilities
 
         connection = self._get_connection()
-        capabilities = connection.get_capabilities()
+        try:
+            capabilities = connection.get_capabilities()
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            self._module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
         self._module._capabilities = json.loads(capabilities)
         return self._module._capabilities
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/vyos/vyos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/vyos/vyos.py
index 50ce73fa64f..ac54cf1cc85 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/vyos/vyos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/vyos/vyos.py
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ def get_capabilities(module):
     if hasattr(module, '_vyos_capabilities'):
         return module._vyos_capabilities
 
-    capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    try:
+        capabilities = Connection(module._socket_path).get_capabilities()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
     module._vyos_capabilities = json.loads(capabilities)
     return module._vyos_capabilities
 
@@ -93,7 +97,10 @@ def get_config(module):
         return _DEVICE_CONFIGS
     else:
         connection = get_connection(module)
-        out = connection.get_config()
+        try:
+            out = connection.get_config()
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
         cfg = to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
         _DEVICE_CONFIGS = cfg
         return cfg
@@ -101,15 +108,19 @@ def get_config(module):
 
 def run_commands(module, commands, check_rc=True):
     connection = get_connection(module)
-    return connection.run_commands(commands=commands, check_rc=check_rc)
+    try:
+        response = connection.run_commands(commands=commands, check_rc=check_rc)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+    return response
 
 
 def load_config(module, commands, commit=False, comment=None):
     connection = get_connection(module)
 
     try:
-        resp = connection.edit_config(candidate=commands, commit=commit, comment=comment)
+        response = connection.edit_config(candidate=commands, commit=commit, comment=comment)
     except ConnectionError as exc:
-        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc))
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
-    return resp.get('diff')
+    return response.get('diff')
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
index d9093d01a23..a473464c655 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
@@ -264,7 +264,9 @@ backup_path:
   type: string
   sample: /playbooks/ansible/backup/eos_config.2016-07-16@22:28:34
 """
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.config import NetworkConfig, dumps
 from ansible.module_utils.network.eos.eos import get_config, load_config, get_connection
 from ansible.module_utils.network.eos.eos import run_commands
@@ -382,8 +384,12 @@ def main():
         candidate = get_candidate(module)
         running = get_running_config(module, contents, flags=flags)
 
-        response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
-                                       diff_replace=replace)
+        try:
+            response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
+                                           diff_replace=replace)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
         config_diff = response['config_diff']
 
         if config_diff:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
index 7e9745d91b9..6459025dc0d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ backup_path:
 """
 import json
 
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.ios.ios import run_commands, get_config
 from ansible.module_utils.network.ios.ios import get_defaults_flag, get_connection
 from ansible.module_utils.network.ios.ios import ios_argument_spec
@@ -419,9 +421,12 @@ def main():
 
         candidate = get_candidate_config(module)
         running = get_running_config(module, contents, flags=flags)
+        try:
+            response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
+                                           diff_replace=replace)
+        except ConnectionError as exc:
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
-        response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
-                                       diff_replace=replace)
         config_diff = response['config_diff']
         banner_diff = response['banner_diff']
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_command.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_command.py
index f8419f8fd65..15575a9920e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_command.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_command.py
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ import shlex
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.netconf import exec_rpc
 from ansible.module_utils.network.junos.junos import junos_argument_spec, get_configuration, get_connection, get_capabilities, tostring
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.parsing import Conditional, FailedConditionalError
@@ -373,7 +374,10 @@ def main():
             if ('display json' not in cmd) and ('display xml' not in cmd):
                 if display and display != 'text':
                     cmd += ' | display {0}'.format(display)
-            output.append(conn.get(command=cmd))
+            try:
+                output.append(conn.get(command=cmd))
+            except ConnectionError as exc:
+                module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
         lines = [out.split('\n') for out in output]
         result = {'changed': False, 'stdout': output, 'stdout_lines': lines}
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_netconf.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_netconf.py
index 0d0723a0bac..c4698c95a71 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_netconf.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_netconf.py
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ commands:
 """
 import re
 
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.network.junos.junos import junos_argument_spec, get_connection
 from ansible.module_utils.network.junos.junos import commit_configuration, discard_changes
@@ -146,9 +148,12 @@ def map_params_to_obj(module):
 
 def load_config(module, config, commit=False):
     conn = get_connection(module)
+    try:
+        conn.edit_config(to_list(config) + ['top'])
+        diff = conn.compare_configuration()
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
 
-    conn.edit_config(to_list(config) + ['top'])
-    diff = conn.compare_configuration()
     if diff:
         if commit:
             commit_configuration(module)
@@ -156,7 +161,7 @@ def load_config(module, config, commit=False):
         else:
             discard_changes(module)
 
-    return str(diff).strip()
+    return to_text(diff, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
 
 
 def main():
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
index c5fe313befb..89033e043da 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@ from functools import partial
 
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.utils import remove_default_spec
 from ansible.module_utils.network.junos.junos import junos_argument_spec, get_connection, tostring
 from ansible.module_utils.network.junos.junos import commit_configuration, discard_changes
@@ -160,7 +162,11 @@ def handle_purge(module, want):
     login = SubElement(element, 'login')
 
     conn = get_connection(module)
-    reply = conn.execute_rpc(tostring(Element('get-configuration')), ignore_warning=False)
+    try:
+        reply = conn.execute_rpc(tostring(Element('get-configuration')), ignore_warning=False)
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
     users = reply.xpath('configuration/system/login/user/name')
     if users:
         for item in users:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
index 5782061e67e..70a8e344388 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
@@ -276,8 +276,7 @@ backup_path:
   type: string
   sample: /playbooks/ansible/backup/nxos_config.2016-07-16@22:28:34
 """
-
-
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.common.config import NetworkConfig, dumps
@@ -436,8 +435,12 @@ def main():
 
             result['changed'] = True
         else:
-            response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
-                                           diff_replace=replace)
+            try:
+                response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=running, diff_match=match, diff_ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines, path=path,
+                                               diff_replace=replace)
+            except ConnectionError as exc:
+                module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
             config_diff = response['config_diff']
             if config_diff:
                 commands = config_diff.split('\n')
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/vyos/vyos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/vyos/vyos_config.py
index c4d776b96bb..4a097d6aafb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/vyos/vyos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/vyos/vyos_config.py
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ backup_path:
 """
 import re
 
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.connection import ConnectionError
 from ansible.module_utils.network.vyos.vyos import load_config, get_config, run_commands
 from ansible.module_utils.network.vyos.vyos import vyos_argument_spec, get_connection
 
@@ -208,7 +210,11 @@ def run(module, result):
 
     # create loadable config that includes only the configuration updates
     connection = get_connection(module)
-    response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=config, diff_match=module.params['match'])
+    try:
+        response = connection.get_diff(candidate=candidate, running=config, diff_match=module.params['match'])
+    except ConnectionError as exc:
+        module.fail_json(msg=to_text(exc, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
+
     commands = response.get('config_diff')
     sanitize_config(commands, result)