diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt_key.py b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt_key.py
index d41664f121..bedd159f0c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt_key.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt_key.py
@@ -220,19 +220,22 @@ def main():
     keyserver       = module.params['keyserver']
     changed         = False
 
+    # we use the "short" id: key_id[-8:], short_format=True
+    # it's a workaround for https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/1481871
+
     if key_id:
         try:
             _ = int(key_id, 16)
             if key_id.startswith('0x'):
                 key_id = key_id[2:]
-            key_id = key_id.upper()
+            key_id = key_id.upper()[-8:]
         except ValueError:
             module.fail_json(msg="Invalid key_id", id=key_id)
 
     # FIXME: I think we have a common facility for this, if not, want
     check_missing_binaries(module)
 
-    short_format = (key_id is not None and len(key_id) == 8)
+    short_format = True
     keys = all_keys(module, keyring, short_format)
     return_values = {}
 
@@ -257,7 +260,7 @@ def main():
                 keys2 = all_keys(module, keyring, short_format)
                 if len(keys) != len(keys2):
                     changed=True
-                if key_id and not key_id[-16:] in keys2:
+                if key_id and not key_id in keys2:
                     module.fail_json(msg="key does not seem to have been added", id=key_id)
                 module.exit_json(changed=changed)
     elif state == 'absent':