diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
index 91a7c03920f..5774cc24d92 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/iosxr/iosxr.py
@@ -345,8 +345,12 @@ def get_config_diff(module, running=None, candidate=None):
         return response
     elif is_netconf(module):
         if running and candidate:
-            running_data = running.split("\n", 1)[-1].rsplit("\n", 1)[0]
-            candidate_data = candidate.split("\n", 1)[-1].rsplit("\n", 1)[0]
+            # ignore rpc-reply root node and diff from data element onwards
+            running_data_ele = etree.fromstring(to_bytes(running.strip())).getchildren()[0]
+            candidate_data_ele = etree.fromstring(to_bytes(candidate.strip())).getchildren()[0]
+
+            running_data = to_text(etree.tostring(running_data_ele)).strip()
+            candidate_data = to_text(etree.tostring(candidate_data_ele)).strip()
             if running_data != candidate_data:
                 d = Differ()
                 diff = list(d.compare(running_data.splitlines(), candidate_data.splitlines()))
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/iosxr_bgp/tests/cli/basic.yaml b/test/integration/targets/iosxr_bgp/tests/cli/basic.yaml
index fba1e33e078..bb3755916b8 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/iosxr_bgp/tests/cli/basic.yaml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/iosxr_bgp/tests/cli/basic.yaml
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@
         that:
           - 'result.changed == false'
 
+    - name: create route-policy as prerequisite for BGP configuration
+      iosxr_config:
+        lines:
+        - no route-policy RMAP_1
+        - route-policy RMAP_1
+        - exit
+      register: result
+
     - name: Configure networks under address family
       iosxr_bgp: &af_net
         operation: merge
@@ -228,7 +236,11 @@
     - assert:
         that:
           - 'result.changed == false'
-  
+
+    - name: delete route-policy configures as prerequisite for BGP configuration (teardown)
+      iosxr_config:
+        lines: no route-policy RMAP_1
+
   when: facts['ansible_facts']['ansible_net_version'].split('[')[0] == '6.1.3'
 
 - debug: msg="END iosxr cli/iosxr_bgp.yaml on connection={{ ansible_connection }}"