diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_template.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_template.py
index c7a33c43372..550d3bad616 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/eos/eos_template.py
@@ -125,6 +125,30 @@ def get_config(module):
         config = module.config
     return config
 
+def filter_exit(commands):
+    # Filter out configuration mode commands followed immediately by an
+    # exit command indented by one level only, e.g.
+    #     - route-map map01 permit 10
+    #     -    exit
+    #
+    # Build a temporary list as we filter, then copy the temp list
+    # back onto the commands list.
+    temp = []
+    ind_prev = 999
+    count = 0
+    for c in commands:
+        ind_this = c.count('   ')
+        if re.search(r"^\s*exit$", c) and ind_this == ind_prev + 1:
+            temp.pop()
+            count -= 1
+            if count != 0:
+                ind_prev = temp[-1].count('   ')
+            continue
+        temp.append(c)
+        ind_prev = ind_this
+        count += 1
+    return temp
+
 def main():
     """ main entry point for module execution
     """
@@ -146,52 +170,33 @@ def main():
 
     replace = module.params['replace']
 
+    commands = list()
+    running = None
+
     result = dict(changed=False)
 
     candidate = NetworkConfig(contents=module.params['src'], indent=3)
 
-    contents = get_config(module)
-    if contents:
-        config = NetworkConfig(contents=contents, indent=3)
-        result['_backup'] = contents
-
-
-    if not module.params['force']:
-        commands = candidate.difference(config)
-    else:
+    if replace:
+        if module.params['transport'] == 'cli':
+            module.fail_json(msg='config replace is only supported over eapi')
         commands = str(candidate).split('\n')
+    else:
+        contents = get_config(module)
+        if contents:
+            running = NetworkConfig(contents=contents, indent=3)
+            result['_backup'] = contents
 
-    # Filter out configuration mode commands followed immediately by an
-    # exit command indented by one level only, e.g.
-    #     - route-map map01 permit 10
-    #     -    exit
-    #
-    # Build a temporary list as we filter, then copy the temp list
-    # back onto the commands list.
-    temp = []
-    ind_prev = 999
-    count = 0
-    for c in commands:
-        ind_this = c.count('   ')
-        if re.search(r"^\s*exit$", c) and ind_this == ind_prev + 1:
-            temp.pop()
-            count -= 1
-            if count != 0:
-                ind_prev = temp[-1].count('   ')
-            continue
-        temp.append(c)
-        ind_prev = ind_this
-        count += 1
-
-    commands = temp
+        if not module.params['force']:
+            commands = candidate.difference((running or list()))
+        else:
+            commands = str(candidate).split('\n')
 
     if commands:
+        commands = filter_exit(commands)
         if not module.check_mode:
             commands = [str(c).strip() for c in commands]
-            if replace:
-                response = module.config_replace(commands)
-            else:
-                response = module.configure(commands)
+            response = module.configure(commands, replace=replace)
             result['responses'] = response
         result['changed'] = True