diff --git a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
index e36ceeedc7f..abcff98b50f 100644
--- a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
+++ b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
@@ -821,8 +821,11 @@ def _check_subnet(s):
         if (subnet_is_id and vnet) or (not subnet_is_id and not vnet):
             raise CLIError("incorrect usage: --subnet ID | --subnet NAME --vnet-name NAME")
 
+        from azure.cli.command_modules.network.aaz.latest.network.vnet import Show as VirtualNetworkShow
+        api_version = VirtualNetworkShow._aaz_info['version']
         subnet_exists = \
-            check_existence(cmd.cli_ctx, subnet, rg, 'Microsoft.Network', 'subnets', vnet, 'virtualNetworks')
+            check_existence(cmd.cli_ctx, subnet, rg, 'Microsoft.Network', 'subnets',
+                            vnet, 'virtualNetworks', api_version=api_version)
 
         if subnet_is_id and not subnet_exists:
             raise CLIError("Subnet '{}' does not exist.".format(subnet))
diff --git a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_vm_utils.py b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_vm_utils.py
index 04a1a92901a..7c256a1dd25 100644
--- a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_vm_utils.py
+++ b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_vm_utils.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def log_pprint_template(template):
 
 
 def check_existence(cli_ctx, value, resource_group, provider_namespace, resource_type,
-                    parent_name=None, parent_type=None):
+                    parent_name=None, parent_type=None, api_version=None):
     # check for name or ID and set the type flags
     from azure.cli.core.commands.client_factory import get_mgmt_service_client
     from azure.core.exceptions import HttpResponseError
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ def check_existence(cli_ctx, value, resource_group, provider_namespace, resource
         parent_path = ''
         resource_name = id_parts['name']
         resource_type = id_parts.get('type', resource_type)
-    api_version = _resolve_api_version(cli_ctx, provider_namespace, resource_type, parent_path)
+
+    if not api_version:
+        api_version = _resolve_api_version(cli_ctx, provider_namespace, resource_type, parent_path)
 
     try:
         resource_client.get(rg, ns, parent_path, resource_type, resource_name, api_version)