diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_banner.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_banner.py
index 6187a6f4a78..a3e136be934 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_banner.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_banner.py
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ def map_config_to_obj(module):
         rc, out, err = exec_command(module,
                                     'show running-config | begin banner %s'
                                     % module.params['banner'])
-        output = re.search('\^C(.*)\^C', out, re.S).group(1).strip()
+        if out:
+            output = re.search('\^C(.*)\^C', out, re.S).group(1).strip()
+        else:
+            output = None
     obj = {'banner': module.params['banner'], 'state': 'absent'}
     if output:
         obj['text'] = output