diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc.py
index 23c25c27a87..3af74e94964 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/ec2_vpc.py
@@ -486,14 +486,15 @@ def create_vpc(module, vpc_conn):
             'id': sn.id,
         })
 
-    # Sort subnets by the order they were listed in the play
-    order = {}
-    for idx, val in enumerate(subnets):
-        order[val['cidr']] = idx
+    if subnets is not None:
+        # Sort subnets by the order they were listed in the play
+        order = {}
+        for idx, val in enumerate(subnets):
+            order[val['cidr']] = idx
 
-    # Number of subnets in the play
-    subnets_in_play = len(subnets)
-    returned_subnets.sort(key=lambda x: order.get(x['cidr'], subnets_in_play))
+        # Number of subnets in the play
+        subnets_in_play = len(subnets)
+        returned_subnets.sort(key=lambda x: order.get(x['cidr'], subnets_in_play))
 
     return (vpc_dict, created_vpc_id, returned_subnets, changed)