diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/ini_file.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/ini_file.py
index d837c329d4..fe583c65af 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/ini_file.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/ini_file.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 
 import ConfigParser
 import sys
+import os
 
 # ==============================================================
 # do_ini
@@ -103,6 +104,11 @@ import sys
 def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, value=None, state='present', backup=False):
 
 
+    if not os.path.exists(filename):
+      try:
+        open(filename,'w').close()
+      except:
+        module.fail_json(msg="Destination file %s not writable" % filename)
     ini_file = open(filename, 'r')
     try:
         ini_lines = ini_file.readlines()