diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
index 574c89d3137..fbb765fd003 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_config.py
@@ -458,9 +458,16 @@ def main():
             base_config = NetworkConfig(indent=1, contents=contents, ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines)
 
             if running_config.sha1 != base_config.sha1:
+                if module.params['diff_against'] == 'intended':
+                    before = running_config
+                    after = base_config
+                elif module.params['diff_against'] in ('startup', 'running'):
+                    before = base_config
+                    after = running_config
+
                 result.update({
                     'changed': True,
-                    'diff': {'before': str(base_config), 'after': str(running_config)}
+                    'diff': {'before': str(before), 'after': str(after)}
                 })
 
     module.exit_json(**result)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
index e37e5c88abc..8c367909f0b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
@@ -532,9 +532,16 @@ def main():
             base_config = NetworkConfig(indent=1, contents=contents, ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines)
 
             if running_config.sha1 != base_config.sha1:
+                if module.params['diff_against'] == 'intended':
+                    before = running_config
+                    after = base_config
+                elif module.params['diff_against'] in ('startup', 'running'):
+                    before = base_config
+                    after = running_config
+
                 result.update({
                     'changed': True,
-                    'diff': {'before': str(base_config), 'after': str(running_config)}
+                    'diff': {'before': str(before), 'after': str(after)}
                 })
 
     module.exit_json(**result)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
index 02374043ca3..d1b7b90046c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/nxos/nxos_config.py
@@ -493,9 +493,16 @@ def main():
             base_config = NetworkConfig(indent=1, contents=contents, ignore_lines=diff_ignore_lines)
 
             if running_config.sha1 != base_config.sha1:
+                if module.params['diff_against'] == 'intended':
+                    before = running_config
+                    after = base_config
+                elif module.params['diff_against'] in ('startup', 'running'):
+                    before = base_config
+                    after = running_config
+
                 result.update({
                     'changed': True,
-                    'diff': {'before': str(base_config), 'after': str(running_config)}
+                    'diff': {'before': str(before), 'after': str(after)}
                 })
 
     module.exit_json(**result)