diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
index cff8ebd440..1022419a8a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/ios/ios_config.py
@@ -322,8 +322,10 @@ def main():
         run(module, result)
     except NetworkError:
         exc = get_exception()
+        module.disconnect()
         module.fail_json(msg=str(exc))
 
+    module.disconnect()
     module.exit_json(**result)