diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
index a60098ab8fe..d8c0572b799 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ backup_path:
 """
 import re
 import json
+import sys
 
 from xml.etree import ElementTree
 
@@ -185,6 +186,12 @@ from ansible.module_utils.junos import check_args as junos_check_args
 from ansible.module_utils.netconf import send_request
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 
+if sys.version_info < (2, 7):
+    from xml.parsers.expat import ExpatError
+    ParseError = ExpatError
+else:
+    ParseError = ElementTree.ParseError
+
 USE_PERSISTENT_CONNECTION = True
 DEFAULT_COMMENT = 'configured by junos_config'
 
@@ -207,7 +214,7 @@ def guess_format(config):
     try:
         ElementTree.fromstring(config)
         return 'xml'
-    except ElementTree.ParseError:
+    except ParseError:
         pass
 
     if config.startswith('set') or config.startswith('delete'):