diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
index 96d45173d75..0fc11ea1ded 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
@@ -396,7 +396,10 @@ class User(object):
             cmd.append(self.password)
 
         if self.create_home:
-            cmd.append('-m')
+            if self.local:
+                cmd.append('-M')
+            else:
+                cmd.append('-m')
 
             if self.skeleton is not None:
                 cmd.append('-k')