diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/pause-catch-error-when-no-std-exists.yml b/changelogs/fragments/pause-catch-error-when-no-std-exists.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..040483b4a31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/pause-catch-error-when-no-std-exists.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - pause - handle exception when there is no stdout (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/47851)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
index 3a965a875e6..86bd7e1ed94 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/pause.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ try:
     try:
         curses.setupterm()
         HAS_CURSES = True
-    except curses.error:
+    except (curses.error, TypeError):
         HAS_CURSES = False
 except ImportError:
     HAS_CURSES = False