diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_common.py b/lib/ansible/module_common.py
index 8e221ad9e75..7c1619c93fd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_common.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_common.py
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ try:
     import selinux
     HAVE_SELINUX=True
 except ImportError:
+    if os.path.exists("/selinux/enforce"):
+        sys.stderr.write('Error: ansible requires the package libselinux-python on nodes with selinux, none found!')
+        sys.exit(1)
     pass
 
 try: