diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/common/utils.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
index 14077e84262..8031738781a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
@@ -596,10 +596,12 @@ def validate_config(spec, data):
 
 
 def search_obj_in_list(name, lst, key='name'):
-    for item in lst:
-        if item.get(key) == name:
-            return item
-    return None
+    if not lst:
+        return None
+    else:
+        for item in lst:
+            if item.get(key) == name:
+                return item
 
 
 class Template: