diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/database/mongodb/mongodb_shard.py b/lib/ansible/modules/database/mongodb/mongodb_shard.py
index 0a7973d3a44..8dc67b1690a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/database/mongodb/mongodb_shard.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/database/mongodb/mongodb_shard.py
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def main():
         try:
             client['admin'].command('listDatabases', 1.0)  # if this throws an error we need to authenticate
         except Exception as excep:
-            if "not authorized on" in str(excep):
+            if "not authorized on" in str(excep) or "command listDatabases requires authentication" in str(excep):
                 if login_user is not None and login_password is not None:
                     client.admin.authenticate(login_user, login_password, source=login_database)
                 else: