diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
index 7c7fd6a4d9..4610338e7a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ def main():
             # this should not happen?
             module.fail_json(msg="Service is in unknown state", status=result['status'])
 
+        result['state'] = f module.params['state']
+
     module.exit_json(**result)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':