diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/iam_user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/iam_user.py
index 8091c142547..790672b510c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/iam_user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/iam_user.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ def create_or_update_user(connection, module):
             module.exit_json(changed=True)
 
         try:
-            user = connection.create_user(**params)
+            connection.create_user(**params)
             changed = True
         except ClientError as e:
             module.fail_json(msg="Unable to create user: {0}".format(to_native(e)), exception=traceback.format_exc(),