diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/maven_artifact.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/maven_artifact.py
index 7583705089..699d97a54c 100755
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/maven_artifact.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/maven_artifact.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class MavenDownloader:
 
     def download(self, artifact, filename=None):
         filename = artifact.get_filename(filename)
-        if not artifact.version:
+        if not artifact.version or artifact.version == "latest":
             artifact = Artifact(artifact.group_id, artifact.artifact_id, self._find_latest_version_available(artifact),
                                 artifact.classifier, artifact.extension)