diff --git a/plugins/modules/sysctl.py b/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
index 7aa4d96..1654ec6 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/sysctl.py
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ class SysctlModule(object):
 
         # Do the work
         if not self.module.check_mode:
+            if self.set_proc:
+                self.set_token_value(self.args['name'], self.args['value'])
             if self.write_file:
                 self.write_sysctl()
             if self.changed and self.args['reload']:
                 self.reload_sysctl()
-            if self.set_proc:
-                self.set_token_value(self.args['name'], self.args['value'])
 
     def _values_is_equal(self, a, b):
         """Expects two string values. It will split the string by whitespace
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/sysctl/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/sysctl/tasks/main.yml
index d72fd52..6372128 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/sysctl/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/sysctl/tasks/main.yml
@@ -289,3 +289,24 @@
           - sysctl_check_mode2 is changed
           - "'vm.swappiness=22' in sysctl_check_mode_conf_content.stdout_lines"
           - sysctl_check_mode_current_vm_swappiness.stdout == '22'
+
+    # Test sysctl: invalid value
+    - name: Set invalid sysctl property using module
+      sysctl:
+        name: vm.mmap_rnd_bits
+        value: '1024'
+        state: present
+        reload: yes
+        sysctl_set: True
+      ignore_errors: True
+      register: sysctl_invalid_set1
+
+    - name: Read /etc/sysctl.conf
+      command: 'cat /etc/sysctl.conf'
+      register: sysctl_invalid_conf_content
+
+    - name: Ensure changes were not made
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - sysctl_invalid_set1 is failed
+          - "'vm.mmap_rnd_bits' not in sysctl_invalid_conf_content.stdout"