diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/network/common/utils.py b/plugins/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
index 770d0e1c3..e8404e0ec 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/network/common/utils.py
@@ -684,12 +684,15 @@ def __call__(self, value, variables=None, fail_on_undefined=True):
             if not fail_on_undefined:
                 return None
             raise
-
+        
         if value is not None:
-            return str(value)  # Ensuring we returning it as a string
+    # Special handling for values starting with +
+            if isinstance(value, str) and value.startswith('+'):
+                return value  # Keep the + prefix intact
+            return str(value)  # Convert everything else to string
         else:
             return None
-
+        
     def contains_vars(self, data):
         if isinstance(data, string_types):
             for marker in (