diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/user.py
index 260189b47ca..e896581dd11 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/user.py
@@ -917,11 +917,9 @@ class User(object):
             if self.move_home:
                 cmd.append('-m')
 
-        if self.shell is not None:
-            expanded_shell = os.path.expanduser(self.shell)
-            if info[6] != expanded_shell:
-                cmd.append('-s')
-                cmd.append(expanded_shell)
+        if self.shell is not None and info[6] != self.shell:
+            cmd.append('-s')
+            cmd.append(self.shell)
 
         if self.expires is not None: