diff --git a/library/system/sysctl b/library/system/sysctl
index 59b92eb6f4..0039928809 100644
--- a/library/system/sysctl
+++ b/library/system/sysctl
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class SysctlModule(object):
         if self.args['sysctl_set']:            
             if self.proc_value is None:
                 self.changed = True
-            elif self.proc_value != self.args['value']:
+            elif self._compare_values(self.proc_value, self.args['value']):
                 self.changed = True 
                 self.set_proc = True
 
@@ -161,6 +161,21 @@ class SysctlModule(object):
             if self.set_proc:
                 self.set_token_value(self.args['name'], self.args['value'])
 
+    def _compare_values(self, a, b):
+        """Expects two string values. It will split the string by whitespace
+        and compare each value. It will return True if both lists are the same,
+        contain the same elements and the same order."""
+        if a is None or b is None:
+            return False
+
+        a = a.split()
+        b = b.split()
+
+        if len(a) != len(b):
+            return False
+
+        return len([i for i, j in zip(a, b) if i == j]) != len(a)
+
     # ==============================================================
     #   SYSCTL COMMAND MANAGEMENT
     # ==============================================================