diff --git a/plugins/modules/podman_network.py b/plugins/modules/podman_network.py
index 830ffc4..5978dde 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/podman_network.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/podman_network.py
@@ -163,6 +163,11 @@ network:
 import json  # noqa: F402
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion  # noqa: F402
 import os  # noqa: F402
+try:
+    import ipaddress
+    HAS_IP_ADDRESS_MODULE = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_IP_ADDRESS_MODULE = False
 
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule  # noqa: F402
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native  # noqa: F402
@@ -372,6 +377,8 @@ class PodmanNetworkDiff:
         after = before
         if self.params['subnet'] is not None:
             after = self.params['subnet']
+            if HAS_IP_ADDRESS_MODULE:
+                after = ipaddress.ip_network(after).compressed
         return self._diff_update_and_compare('subnet', before, after)
 
     def diffparam_macvlan(self):
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/podman_network/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/podman_network/tasks/main.yml
index 2cc3f64..8a67c6c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/podman_network/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/podman_network/tasks/main.yml
@@ -230,30 +230,51 @@
     - name: Create network
       containers.podman.podman_network:
         name: "{{ network_name }}"
-      register: net
+      register: net1
 
     - name: Get existing network info
       containers.podman.podman_network_info:
         name: "{{ network_name }}"
-      register: info1
+      register: info15
 
     - name: Check info
       assert:
         that:
-          - info1 | length > 1
-          - info1.networks.0.name == network_name
-          - net is changed
+          - info15 | length > 1
+          - info15.networks.0.name == network_name
+          - net1 is changed
 
     - name: Create network again
       containers.podman.podman_network:
         name: "{{ network_name }}"
         state: present
-      register: info2
+      register: info16
 
     - name: Check info
       assert:
         that:
-          - info2 is not changed
+          - info16 is not changed
+
+    - name: Create network with IPv6 'exploded'
+      containers.podman.podman_network:
+        name: "{{ network_name }}"
+        ipv6: yes
+        subnet: fd4f:552c:830f:0000::/64
+        state: present
+
+    - name: Create network with IPv6 'exploded' again
+      containers.podman.podman_network:
+        name: "{{ network_name }}"
+        ipv6: yes
+        subnet: fd4f:552c:830f:0000::/64
+        state: present
+      register: info17
+
+    - name: Check info
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - info17 is not changed
+
   always:
 
     - name: Cleanup