diff --git a/plugins/modules/ipaautomountmap.py b/plugins/modules/ipaautomountmap.py
index 9cca0a9852fa98be8aa4553752f5ea995df8a47e..8f990d2440a49160df921b6e59cab3454a32e089 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ipaautomountmap.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ipaautomountmap.py
@@ -123,9 +123,10 @@ class AutomountMap(IPAAnsibleModule):
         self.params_fail_used_invalid(invalid, state)
 
     def get_args(self, mapname, desc):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
-        _args = {}
-        if mapname:
-            _args["automountmapname"] = mapname
+        # automountmapname is required for all automountmap operations.
+        if not mapname:
+            self.fail_json(msg="automountmapname cannot be None or empty.")
+        _args = {"automountmapname": mapname}
         # An empty string is valid and will clear the attribute.
         if desc is not None:
             _args["description"] = desc