diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/add_host.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/add_host.py
index cd4bb40e78e..f92588fe7d4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/add_host.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/add_host.py
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ class ActionModule(ActionBase):
 
         # Parse out any hostname:port patterns
         new_name = self._task.args.get('name', self._task.args.get('hostname', self._task.args.get('host', None)))
+
+        if new_name is None:
+            result['failed'] = True
+            result['msg'] = 'name or hostname arg needs to be provided'
+            return result
+
         display.vv("creating host via 'add_host': hostname=%s" % new_name)
 
         try: