diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/3835-java-cert-run-list.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/3835-java-cert-run-list.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7cebe7d2cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/3835-java-cert-run-list.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+    - java_cert - calling ``run_command`` with arguments as ``list`` instead of ``str`` (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/3835).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/java_cert.py b/plugins/modules/system/java_cert.py
index 515d5269c9..afeab9d9e7 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/java_cert.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/java_cert.py
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ def delete_cert(module, executable, keystore_path, keystore_pass, alias, keystor
 
 def test_keytool(module, executable):
     ''' Test if keytool is actually executable or not '''
-    module.run_command("%s" % executable, check_rc=True)
+    module.run_command([executable], check_rc=True)
 
 
 def test_keystore(module, keystore_path):