diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix_nxos_terminal_plugin_order.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/fix_nxos_terminal_plugin_order.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..42d8ca8704e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/fix_nxos_terminal_plugin_order.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+  - Update terminal plugin to check feature privilege only when escalation is needed (https://github.com/ansible-collections/cisco.nxos/pull/61).
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/nxos.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/nxos.py
index dbeab1f3ffc..e09bf08f7ef 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/nxos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/terminal/nxos.py
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@ class TerminalModule(TerminalBase):
 
         out = self._exec_cli_command('show privilege')
         out = to_text(out, errors='surrogate_then_replace').strip()
-        if 'Disabled' in out:
-            raise AnsibleConnectionFailure('Feature privilege is not enabled')
 
         # if already at privilege level 15 return
         if '15' in out:
@@ -67,6 +65,9 @@ class TerminalModule(TerminalBase):
         if self.validate_user_role():
             return
 
+        if 'Disabled' in out:
+            raise AnsibleConnectionFailure('Feature privilege is not enabled')
+
         cmd = {u'command': u'enable'}
         if passwd:
             cmd[u'prompt'] = to_text(r"(?i)[\r\n]?Password: $", errors='surrogate_or_strict')