diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
index 58e2517075..7504a73d5e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
@@ -1489,21 +1489,11 @@ class PyVmomiHelper(PyVmomi):
                 self.change_detected = True
 
     def select_host(self):
-        # if the user wants a cluster, get the list of hosts for the cluster and use the first one
-        if self.params['cluster']:
-            cluster = self.cache.get_cluster(self.params['cluster'])
-            if not cluster:
-                self.module.fail_json(msg='Failed to find cluster "%(cluster)s"' % self.params)
-            hostsystems = [x for x in cluster.host]
-            if not hostsystems:
-                self.module.fail_json(msg='No hosts found in cluster "%(cluster)s. Maybe you lack the right privileges ?"' % self.params)
-            # TODO: add a policy to select host
-            hostsystem = hostsystems[0]
-        else:
-            hostsystem = self.cache.get_esx_host(self.params['esxi_hostname'])
-            if not hostsystem:
-                self.module.fail_json(msg='Failed to find ESX host "%(esxi_hostname)s"' % self.params)
-
+        hostsystem = self.cache.get_esx_host(self.params['esxi_hostname'])
+        if not hostsystem:
+            self.module.fail_json(msg='Failed to find ESX host "%(esxi_hostname)s"' % self.params)
+        if hostsystem.runtime.connectionState != 'connected' or hostsystem.runtime.inMaintenanceMode:
+            self.module.fail_json(msg='ESXi "%(esxi_hostname)s" is in invalid state or in maintenance mode.' % self.params)
         return hostsystem
 
     def autoselect_datastore(self):