diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/netconf_plugin_dispatch_fix.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/netconf_plugin_dispatch_fix.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..abbc791bf84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/netconf_plugin_dispatch_fix.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+- Fix netconf plugin dispatch response (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/53236)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/netconf/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/netconf/__init__.py
index 1ccc767da18..a56df1576a9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/netconf/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/netconf/__init__.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class NetconfBase(AnsiblePlugin):
             raise ValueError('rpc_command value must be provided')
         req = fromstring(rpc_command)
         resp = self.m.dispatch(req, source=source, filter=filter)
-        return resp.data_xml if hasattr(resp, 'data_xml') else resp.xml
+        return resp.data_xml if resp.data_ele else resp.xml
 
     @ensure_connected
     def lock(self, target="candidate"):