diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/37-authorized_keys-inconsistent-check-mode-values.yml b/changelogs/fragments/37-authorized_keys-inconsistent-check-mode-values.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eed6ec6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/37-authorized_keys-inconsistent-check-mode-values.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+  - authorized_keys - fix inconsistent return value for check mode (https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.posix/issues/37)
diff --git a/plugins/modules/authorized_key.py b/plugins/modules/authorized_key.py
index 2959249..a28726c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/authorized_key.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/authorized_key.py
@@ -635,13 +635,9 @@ def enforce_state(module, params):
             }
             params['diff'] = diff
 
-        if module.check_mode:
-            module.exit_json(changed=True, diff=diff)
-        writefile(module, filename, new_content)
+        if not module.check_mode:
+            writefile(module, filename, new_content)
         params['changed'] = True
-    else:
-        if module.check_mode:
-            module.exit_json(changed=False)
 
     return params
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/authorized_key/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/authorized_key/tasks/main.yml
index 1453987..7f38a47 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/authorized_key/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/authorized_key/tasks/main.yml
@@ -410,12 +410,13 @@
 # -------------------------------------------------------------
 # check mode
 
-- name: copy an existing file in place with comments
+- name: CHECK MODE | copy an existing file in place with comments
   copy:
     src: existing_authorized_keys
     dest: "{{ output_dir | expanduser }}/authorized_keys"
 
-- authorized_key:
+- name: CHECK MODE | add key in check mode to validate return codes
+  authorized_key:
     user: root
     key: "{{ multiple_key_different_order_2 }}"
     state: present
@@ -423,13 +424,21 @@
   check_mode: True
   register: result
 
-- name: assert that the file was not changed
+- name: CHECK MODE | assert that authorized_keys return values are consistent
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - 'result.changed == True'
+      - '"user" in result'
+      - '"key" in result'
+
+- name: CHECK MODE | recopy authorized_keys to ensure it was not changed 
   copy:
     src: existing_authorized_keys
     dest: "{{ output_dir | expanduser }}/authorized_keys"
   register: result
 
-- assert:
+- name: CHECK MODE | assert that the authorized_keys file was not changed
+  assert:
     that:
       - 'result.changed == False'