diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/vmware/vmware_vm_shell.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/vmware/vmware_vm_shell.py
index a2d5c71098e..da4a7f62217 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/vmware/vmware_vm_shell.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/cloud/vmware/vmware_vm_shell.py
@@ -146,11 +146,11 @@ def main():
     if not HAS_PYVMOMI:
         module.fail_json(changed=False, msg='pyvmomi is required for this module')
 
-    datacenter_name = p['datacenter']
-    cluster_name = p['cluster']
 
     try:
         p = module.params
+        datacenter_name = p['datacenter']
+        cluster_name = p['cluster']
         content = connect_to_api(module)
 
         datacenter = None
@@ -185,4 +185,3 @@ from ansible.module_utils.basic import *
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
-