diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/basics/uri.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/basics/uri.py
index 377d50a0ce5..cb1faf6ecb2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/basics/uri.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/basics/uri.py
@@ -425,15 +425,14 @@ def main():
         # and the filename already exists.  This allows idempotence
         # of uri executions.
         if os.path.exists(creates):
-            module.exit_json(stdout="skipped, since %s exists" % creates,
-                             changed=False, stderr=False, rc=0)
+            module.exit_json(stdout="skipped, since %s exists" % creates, changed=False, rc=0)
 
     if removes is not None:
         # do not run the command if the line contains removes=filename
         # and the filename do not exists.  This allows idempotence
         # of uri executions.
         if not os.path.exists(removes):
-            module.exit_json(stdout="skipped, since %s does not exist" % removes, changed=False, stderr=False, rc=0)
+            module.exit_json(stdout="skipped, since %s does not exist" % removes, changed=False, rc=0)
 
     # Make the request
     resp, content, dest = uri(module, url, dest, body, body_format, method,
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
index 95343c2e696..987f49b05e1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class ActionBase(with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
         3 = its a directory, not a file
         4 = stat module failed, likely due to not finding python
         '''
-        x = "0"  # unknown error has occured
+        x = "0"  # unknown error has occurred
         try:
             remote_stat = self._execute_remote_stat(path, all_vars, follow=follow)
             if remote_stat['exists'] and remote_stat['isdir']:
@@ -754,9 +754,13 @@ class ActionBase(with_metaclass(ABCMeta, object)):
 
         # pre-split stdout/stderr into lines if needed
         if 'stdout' in data and 'stdout_lines' not in data:
-            data['stdout_lines'] = data.get('stdout', u'').splitlines()
+            # if the value is 'False', a default won't catch it.
+            txt = data.get('stdout', None) or u''
+            data['stdout_lines'] = txt.splitlines()
         if 'stderr' in data and 'stderr_lines' not in data:
-            data['stderr_lines'] = data.get('stderr', u'').splitlines()
+            # if the value is 'False', a default won't catch it.
+            txt = data.get('stderr', None) or u''
+            data['stderr_lines'] = txt.splitlines()
 
         display.debug("done with _execute_module (%s, %s)" % (module_name, module_args))
         return data