diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/user.py b/plugins/module_utils/user.py
index 66c11930..7131a669 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/user.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/user.py
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ def user_add(cursor, user, host, host_all, password, encrypted,
              plugin, plugin_hash_string, plugin_auth_string, new_priv,
              attributes, tls_requires, module, reuse_existing_password,
              password_expire, password_expire_interval):
+    # If attributes are set, perform a sanity check to ensure server supports user attributes before creating user
+    if attributes and not get_attribute_support(cursor):
+        module.fail_json(msg="user attributes were specified but the server does not support user attributes")
     # we cannot create users without a proper hostname
     if host_all:
         return {'changed': False, 'password_changed': False, 'attributes': attributes}
@@ -1086,6 +1089,9 @@ def get_attribute_support(cursor):
 def attributes_get(cursor, user, host):
     """Get attributes for a given user.
 
+    Args:
+        cursor (cursor): DB driver cursor object.
+        user (str): User name.
         host (str): User host name.
 
     Returns: