diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/netconf/netconf.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/netconf/netconf.py
index f612142b60f..bd37f14931a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/netconf/netconf.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network/netconf/netconf.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def locked_config(module, target=None):
         unlock_configuration(module, target=target)
 
 
-def get_config(module, source, filter, lock=False):
+def get_config(module, source, filter=None, lock=False):
     conn = get_connection(module)
     try:
         locked = False
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/netconf/netconf_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/netconf/netconf_config.py
index 9671cd4738c..6117b8342bb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/netconf/netconf_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/netconf/netconf_config.py
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ def main():
             if not module.check_mode:
                 conn.commit()
             result['changed'] = True
-        else:
+        elif config:
             if module.check_mode and not supports_commit:
                 module.warn("check mode not supported as Netconf server doesn't support candidate capability")
                 result['changed'] = True
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/iosxr/basic.yaml b/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/iosxr/basic.yaml
index e69de29bb2d..92a3ff6111d 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/iosxr/basic.yaml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/iosxr/basic.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+- debug: msg="START netconf_config iosxr/basic.yaml on connection={{ ansible_connection }}"
+
+- name: save config test
+  netconf_config:
+    backup: yes
+  register: result
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+      - "'backup_path' in result"
+
+- debug: msg="END netconf_config iosxr/basic.yaml on connection={{ ansible_connection }}"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/junos/basic.yaml b/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/junos/basic.yaml
index 1e662804091..63e972d2e1c 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/junos/basic.yaml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/netconf_config/tests/junos/basic.yaml
@@ -52,4 +52,13 @@
     lines:
     - delete system syslog file test_netconf_config
 
+- name: save config
+  netconf_config:
+    backup: yes
+    register: result
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+      - "'backup_path' in result"
+
 - debug: msg="END netconf_config junos/basic.yaml on connection={{ ansible_connection }}"