diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
index aaa2671a5e2..b88fa48bc95 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def check_args(module, warnings):
 def get_candidate(module):
     candidate = NetworkConfig(indent=1)
     if module.params['src']:
-        candidate = module.params['src']
+        candidate.load(module.params['src'])
     elif module.params['lines']:
         parents = module.params['parents'] or list()
         candidate.add(module.params['lines'], parents=parents)