diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/4150-gitlab-project-variable-absent-fix.yml b/changelogs/fragments/4150-gitlab-project-variable-absent-fix.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..778ee40ce1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/4150-gitlab-project-variable-absent-fix.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - gitlab_project_variable - ``value`` is not necessary when deleting variables (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/4150).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_project_variable.py b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_project_variable.py
index 9bab6f169c..f9b8d7b6e1 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_project_variable.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/source_control/gitlab/gitlab_project_variable.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ options:
       value:
         description:
           - The variable value.
+          - Required when I(state=present).
         type: str
-        required: true
       masked:
         description:
           - Wether variable value is masked or not.
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def main():
         vars=dict(type='dict', required=False, default=dict(), no_log=True),
         variables=dict(type='list', elements='dict', required=False, default=list(), options=dict(
             name=dict(type='str', required=True),
-            value=dict(type='str', required=True, no_log=True),
+            value=dict(type='str', no_log=True),
             masked=dict(type='bool', default=False),
             protected=dict(type='bool', default=False),
             environment_scope=dict(type='str', default='*'),
@@ -431,18 +431,21 @@ def main():
         supports_check_mode=True
     )
 
+    if not HAS_GITLAB_PACKAGE:
+        module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib("python-gitlab"), exception=GITLAB_IMP_ERR)
+
     purge = module.params['purge']
     var_list = module.params['vars']
+    state = module.params['state']
 
     if var_list:
         variables = vars_to_variables(var_list, module)
     else:
         variables = module.params['variables']
 
-    state = module.params['state']
-
-    if not HAS_GITLAB_PACKAGE:
-        module.fail_json(msg=missing_required_lib("python-gitlab"), exception=GITLAB_IMP_ERR)
+    if state == 'present':
+        if any(x['value'] is None for x in variables):
+            module.fail_json(msg='value parameter is required in state present')
 
     gitlab_instance = gitlab_authentication(module)
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/gitlab_project_variable/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/gitlab_project_variable/tasks/main.yml
index 7b745526a2..18dbf7eccd 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/gitlab_project_variable/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/gitlab_project_variable/tasks/main.yml
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@
     vars:
       ACCESS_KEY_ID:
         environment_scope: testing
+        value: checkmode
   register: gitlab_project_variable_state
 
 - name: state must be changed
@@ -242,6 +243,7 @@
     vars:
       ACCESS_KEY_ID:
         environment_scope: testing
+        value: checkmode
   register: gitlab_project_variable_state
 
 - name: state must not be changed
@@ -644,3 +646,51 @@
       - gitlab_project_variable_state.project_variable.untouched|length == 0
       - gitlab_project_variable_state.project_variable.removed|length == 0
       - gitlab_project_variable_state.project_variable.updated|length == 0
+
+- name: throw error when state is present but no value is given
+  gitlab_project_variable:
+    api_url: "{{ gitlab_host }}"
+    api_token: "{{ gitlab_login_token }}"
+    project: "{{ gitlab_project_name }}"
+    variables:
+      - name: delete_me
+  register: gitlab_project_variable_state
+  ignore_errors: yes
+
+- name: verify fail
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - gitlab_project_variable_state.failed
+      - gitlab_project_variable_state is not changed
+
+- name: set a new variable to delete it later
+  gitlab_project_variable:
+    api_url: "{{ gitlab_host }}"
+    api_token: "{{ gitlab_login_token }}"
+    project: "{{ gitlab_project_name }}"
+    purge: True
+    variables:
+      - name: delete_me
+        value: ansible
+  register: gitlab_project_variable_state
+
+- name: verify the change
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - gitlab_project_variable_state.changed
+
+- name: delete variable without referencing its value
+  gitlab_project_variable:
+    api_url: "{{ gitlab_host }}"
+    api_token: "{{ gitlab_login_token }}"
+    project: "{{ gitlab_project_name }}"
+    state: absent
+    variables:
+      - name: delete_me
+  register: gitlab_project_variable_state
+
+- name: verify deletion
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - gitlab_project_variable_state.changed
+      - gitlab_project_variable_state.project_variable.removed|length == 1