diff --git a/plugins/modules/xattr.py b/plugins/modules/xattr.py
index 17769ed2d8..7f7572dd4a 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/xattr.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/xattr.py
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ def main():
         module.fail_json(msg="path not found or not accessible!")
 
     if state == 'read' and key is None:
+        #NOTE: This is backwards compatible, but should go away once we deprecate and remove 'info states'
         module.warn('No key provided for state "read", assuming you really want "all"')
+        state == 'all'
 
     changed = False
     msg = ""