diff --git a/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc_nat_gateway.py b/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc_nat_gateway.py
index d1d38e0e030..b5874128f3d 100644
--- a/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc_nat_gateway.py
+++ b/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc_nat_gateway.py
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ def main():
             )
 
     if not success:
-        module.exit_json(
+        module.fail_json(
             msg=err_msg, success=success, changed=changed
         )
     else: