diff --git a/system/user b/system/user
index bf7af530b86..b0b23946765 100644
--- a/system/user
+++ b/system/user
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ class User(object):
         if self.groups is None:
             return None
         info = self.user_info()
-        groups = set(self.groups.split(','))
+        groups = set(filter(None, self.groups.split(',')))
         for g in set(groups):
             if not self.group_exists(g):
                 self.module.fail_json(msg="Group %s does not exist" % (g))