diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_host.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_host.py
index 75993f5ee87..c6a5b6d40f5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_host.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_host.py
@@ -341,7 +341,9 @@ class VMwareHost(PyVmomi):
 
     def state_exit_unchanged(self):
         """Exit with status message"""
-        if self.reconnect_disconnected and self.host_update.runtime.connectionState == 'disconnected':
+        if not self.host_update:
+            result = "Host already disconnected"
+        elif self.reconnect_disconnected and self.host_update.runtime.connectionState == 'disconnected':
             self.state_reconnect_host()
         else:
             if self.folder_name: