diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/3328-interfaces_file-improvements.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/3328-interfaces_file-improvements.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..10734af603
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/3328-interfaces_file-improvements.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - interfaces_file - no longer reporting change when none happened (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/3328).
+minor_changes:
+  - interfaces_file - minor refactor (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/3328).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file.py b/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file.py
index c22c0ce29e..7666ba1cbc 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file.py
@@ -148,57 +148,48 @@ from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes
 
 
-def lineDict(line):
+def line_dict(line):
     return {'line': line, 'line_type': 'unknown'}
 
 
-def optionDict(line, iface, option, value, address_family):
+def make_option_dict(line, iface, option, value, address_family):
     return {'line': line, 'iface': iface, 'option': option, 'value': value, 'line_type': 'option', 'address_family': address_family}
 
 
-def getValueFromLine(s):
-    spaceRe = re.compile(r'\s+')
-    for m in spaceRe.finditer(s):
-        pass
-    valueEnd = m.start()
-    option = s.split()[0]
-    optionStart = s.find(option)
-    optionLen = len(option)
-    valueStart = re.search(r'\s', s[optionLen + optionStart:]).end() + optionLen + optionStart
-    return s[valueStart:valueEnd]
+def get_option_value(line):
+    patt = re.compile(r'^\s+(?P<option>\S+)\s+(?P<value>\S?.*\S)\s*$')
+    match = patt.match(line)
+    if not match:
+        return None, None
+    return match.group("option"), match.group("value")
 
 
 def read_interfaces_file(module, filename):
-    f = open(filename, 'r')
-    return read_interfaces_lines(module, f)
+    with open(filename, 'r') as f:
+        return read_interfaces_lines(module, f)
+
+
+def _is_line_processing_none(first_word):
+    return first_word in ("source", "source-dir", "source-directory", "auto", "no-auto-down", "no-scripts") or first_word.startswith("auto-")
 
 
 def read_interfaces_lines(module, line_strings):
     lines = []
     ifaces = {}
+    iface_name = None
+    address_family = None
+    currif = {}
     currently_processing = None
-    i = 0
-    for line in line_strings:
-        i += 1
+    for i, line in enumerate(line_strings):
         words = line.split()
-        if len(words) < 1:
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            continue
-        if words[0][0] == "#":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
+        if not words or words[0].startswith("#"):
+            lines.append(line_dict(line))
             continue
         if words[0] == "mapping":
-            # currmap = calloc(1, sizeof *currmap);
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
+            lines.append(line_dict(line))
             currently_processing = "MAPPING"
-        elif words[0] == "source":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
-        elif words[0] == "source-dir":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
-        elif words[0] == "source-directory":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
+        elif _is_line_processing_none(words[0]):
+            lines.append(line_dict(line))
             currently_processing = "NONE"
         elif words[0] == "iface":
             currif = {
@@ -221,39 +212,26 @@ def read_interfaces_lines(module, line_strings):
             ifaces[iface_name] = currif
             lines.append({'line': line, 'iface': iface_name, 'line_type': 'iface', 'params': currif, 'address_family': address_family})
             currently_processing = "IFACE"
-        elif words[0] == "auto":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
-        elif words[0].startswith("allow-"):
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
-        elif words[0] == "no-auto-down":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
-        elif words[0] == "no-scripts":
-            lines.append(lineDict(line))
-            currently_processing = "NONE"
         else:
             if currently_processing == "IFACE":
-                option_name = words[0]
+                option_name, value = get_option_value(line)
                 # TODO: if option_name in currif.options
-                value = getValueFromLine(line)
-                lines.append(optionDict(line, iface_name, option_name, value, address_family))
+                lines.append(make_option_dict(line, iface_name, option_name, value, address_family))
                 if option_name in ["pre-up", "up", "down", "post-up"]:
                     currif[option_name].append(value)
                 else:
                     currif[option_name] = value
             elif currently_processing == "MAPPING":
-                lines.append(lineDict(line))
+                lines.append(line_dict(line))
             elif currently_processing == "NONE":
-                lines.append(lineDict(line))
+                lines.append(line_dict(line))
             else:
-                module.fail_json(msg="misplaced option %s in line %d" % (line, i))
-                return None, None
+                module.fail_json(msg="misplaced option %s in line %d" % (line, i + 1))
+
     return lines, ifaces
 
 
-def setInterfaceOption(module, lines, iface, option, raw_value, state, address_family=None):
+def set_interface_option(module, lines, iface, option, raw_value, state, address_family=None):
     value = str(raw_value)
     changed = False
 
@@ -262,57 +240,54 @@ def setInterfaceOption(module, lines, iface, option, raw_value, state, address_f
         iface_lines = [item for item in iface_lines
                        if "address_family" in item and item["address_family"] == address_family]
 
-    if len(iface_lines) < 1:
+    if not iface_lines:
         # interface not found
         module.fail_json(msg="Error: interface %s not found" % iface)
-        return changed, None
 
-    iface_options = list(filter(lambda i: i['line_type'] == 'option', iface_lines))
-    target_options = list(filter(lambda i: i['option'] == option, iface_options))
+    iface_options = [il for il in iface_lines if il['line_type'] == 'option']
+    target_options = [io for io in iface_options if io['option'] == option]
 
     if state == "present":
-        if len(target_options) < 1:
-            changed = True
+        if not target_options:
             # add new option
             last_line_dict = iface_lines[-1]
-            changed, lines = addOptionAfterLine(option, value, iface, lines, last_line_dict, iface_options, address_family)
-        else:
-            if option in ["pre-up", "up", "down", "post-up"]:
-                if len(list(filter(lambda i: i['value'] == value, target_options))) < 1:
-                    changed, lines = addOptionAfterLine(option, value, iface, lines, target_options[-1], iface_options, address_family)
-            else:
-                # if more than one option found edit the last one
-                if target_options[-1]['value'] != value:
-                    changed = True
-                    target_option = target_options[-1]
-                    old_line = target_option['line']
-                    old_value = target_option['value']
-                    address_family = target_option['address_family']
-                    prefix_start = old_line.find(option)
-                    optionLen = len(option)
-                    old_value_position = re.search(r"\s+".join(map(re.escape, old_value.split())), old_line[prefix_start + optionLen:])
-                    start = old_value_position.start() + prefix_start + optionLen
-                    end = old_value_position.end() + prefix_start + optionLen
-                    line = old_line[:start] + value + old_line[end:]
-                    index = len(lines) - lines[::-1].index(target_option) - 1
-                    lines[index] = optionDict(line, iface, option, value, address_family)
-    elif state == "absent":
-        if len(target_options) >= 1:
+            return add_option_after_line(option, value, iface, lines, last_line_dict, iface_options, address_family)
+
+        if option in ["pre-up", "up", "down", "post-up"] and all(ito for ito in target_options if ito['value'] != value):
+            return add_option_after_line(option, value, iface, lines, target_options[-1], iface_options, address_family)
+
+        # if more than one option found edit the last one
+        if target_options[-1]['value'] != value:
+            changed = True
+            target_option = target_options[-1]
+            old_line = target_option['line']
+            old_value = target_option['value']
+            address_family = target_option['address_family']
+            prefix_start = old_line.find(option)
+            option_len = len(option)
+            old_value_position = re.search(r"\s+".join(map(re.escape, old_value.split())), old_line[prefix_start + option_len:])
+            start = old_value_position.start() + prefix_start + option_len
+            end = old_value_position.end() + prefix_start + option_len
+            line = old_line[:start] + value + old_line[end:]
+            index = len(lines) - lines[::-1].index(target_option) - 1
+            lines[index] = make_option_dict(line, iface, option, value, address_family)
+            return changed, lines
+
+    if state == "absent":
+        if target_options:
             if option in ["pre-up", "up", "down", "post-up"] and value is not None and value != "None":
-                for target_option in filter(lambda i: i['value'] == value, target_options):
+                for target_option in [ito for ito in target_options if ito['value'] == value]:
                     changed = True
-                    lines = list(filter(lambda ln: ln != target_option, lines))
+                    lines = [ln for ln in lines if ln != target_option]
             else:
                 changed = True
                 for target_option in target_options:
-                    lines = list(filter(lambda ln: ln != target_option, lines))
-    else:
-        module.fail_json(msg="Error: unsupported state %s, has to be either present or absent" % state)
+                    lines = [ln for ln in lines if ln != target_option]
 
     return changed, lines
 
 
-def addOptionAfterLine(option, value, iface, lines, last_line_dict, iface_options, address_family):
+def add_option_after_line(option, value, iface, lines, last_line_dict, iface_options, address_family):
     # Changing method of interface is not an addition
     if option == 'method':
         changed = False
@@ -328,23 +303,21 @@ def addOptionAfterLine(option, value, iface, lines, last_line_dict, iface_option
     suffix_start = last_line.rfind(last_line.split()[-1]) + len(last_line.split()[-1])
     prefix = last_line[:prefix_start]
 
-    if len(iface_options) < 1:
+    if not iface_options:
         # interface has no options, ident
         prefix += "    "
 
     line = prefix + "%s %s" % (option, value) + last_line[suffix_start:]
-    option_dict = optionDict(line, iface, option, value, address_family)
+    option_dict = make_option_dict(line, iface, option, value, address_family)
     index = len(lines) - lines[::-1].index(last_line_dict)
     lines.insert(index, option_dict)
     return True, lines
 
 
 def write_changes(module, lines, dest):
-
     tmpfd, tmpfile = tempfile.mkstemp()
-    f = os.fdopen(tmpfd, 'wb')
-    f.write(to_bytes(''.join(lines), errors='surrogate_or_strict'))
-    f.close()
+    with os.fdopen(tmpfd, 'wb') as f:
+        f.write(to_bytes(''.join(lines), errors='surrogate_or_strict'))
     module.atomic_move(tmpfile, os.path.realpath(dest))
 
 
@@ -382,7 +355,7 @@ def main():
     changed = False
 
     if option is not None:
-        changed, lines = setInterfaceOption(module, lines, iface, option, value, state, address_family)
+        changed, lines = set_interface_option(module, lines, iface, option, value, state, address_family)
 
     if changed:
         dummy, ifaces = read_interfaces_lines(module, [d['line'] for d in lines if 'line' in d])
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/aliases b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/aliases
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..765b70da79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/aliases
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+shippable/posix/group2
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/files/interfaces_ff b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/files/interfaces_ff
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3319a4872
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/files/interfaces_ff
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+iface eno1 inet static
+  address   1.2.3.4
+  netmask   255.255.255.0
+  gateway   1.2.3.1
+  up route add -net 1.2.3.4 netmask 255.255.255.0 gw 1.2.3.1 eno1
+  up ip addr add 4.3.2.1/32 dev eno1
+  down ip addr add 4.3.2.1/32 dev eno1
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af33eb8892
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/interfaces_file/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+- name:
+  set_fact:
+    interfaces_testfile: '{{ output_dir }}/interfaces'
+
+- name: Copy interfaces file
+  copy:
+    src: 'files/interfaces_ff'
+    dest: '{{ interfaces_testfile }}'
+
+- name: Change IP address to 1.2.3.5
+  community.general.interfaces_file:
+    dest: "{{ interfaces_testfile }}"
+    iface: eno1
+    option: address
+    value: 1.2.3.5
+  register: ifile_1
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+    - ifile_1 is changed
+
+- name: Change IP address to 1.2.3.5 again
+  community.general.interfaces_file:
+    dest: "{{ interfaces_testfile }}"
+    iface: eno1
+    option: address
+    value: 1.2.3.5
+  register: ifile_2
+
+- assert:
+    that:
+    - ifile_2 is not changed
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file/test_interfaces_file.py b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file/test_interfaces_file.py
index c39842f5a1..2008d62864 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file/test_interfaces_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/interfaces_file/test_interfaces_file.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class AnsibleFailJson(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-class ModuleMocked():
+class ModuleMocked:
     def atomic_move(self, src, dst):
         move(src, dst)
 
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ class TestInterfacesFileModule(unittest.TestCase):
                 fail_json_iterations = []
                 for i, options in enumerate(options_list):
                     try:
-                        dummy, lines = interfaces_file.setInterfaceOption(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
-                                                                          options['value'], options['state'])
+                        dummy, lines = interfaces_file.set_interface_option(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
+                                                                            options['value'], options['state'])
                     except AnsibleFailJson as e:
                         fail_json_iterations.append("[%d] fail_json message: %s\noptions:\n%s" %
                                                     (i, str(e), json.dumps(options, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': '))))
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ class TestInterfacesFileModule(unittest.TestCase):
                         fail_json_iterations = []
                         options['state'] = state
                         try:
-                            dummy, lines = interfaces_file.setInterfaceOption(module, lines,
-                                                                              options['iface'], options['option'], options['value'], options['state'])
+                            dummy, lines = interfaces_file.set_interface_option(module, lines,
+                                                                                options['iface'], options['option'], options['value'], options['state'])
                         except AnsibleFailJson as e:
                             fail_json_iterations.append("fail_json message: %s\noptions:\n%s" %
                                                         (str(e), json.dumps(options, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': '))))
@@ -216,12 +216,12 @@ class TestInterfacesFileModule(unittest.TestCase):
                     options = options_list[0]
                     fail_json_iterations = []
                     try:
-                        changed, lines = interfaces_file.setInterfaceOption(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
-                                                                            options['value'], options['state'])
+                        changed, lines = interfaces_file.set_interface_option(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
+                                                                              options['value'], options['state'])
                         # When a changed is made try running it again for proper idempotency
                         if changed:
-                            changed_again, lines = interfaces_file.setInterfaceOption(module, lines, options['iface'],
-                                                                                      options['option'], options['value'], options['state'])
+                            changed_again, lines = interfaces_file.set_interface_option(module, lines, options['iface'],
+                                                                                        options['option'], options['value'], options['state'])
                             self.assertFalse(changed_again,
                                              msg='Second request for change should return false for {0} running on {1}'.format(testname,
                                                                                                                                testfile))
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ class TestInterfacesFileModule(unittest.TestCase):
                     options = options_list[0]
                     fail_json_iterations = []
                     try:
-                        dummy, lines = interfaces_file.setInterfaceOption(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
-                                                                          options['value'], options['state'], options['address_family'])
+                        dummy, lines = interfaces_file.set_interface_option(module, lines, options['iface'], options['option'],
+                                                                            options['value'], options['state'], options['address_family'])
                     except AnsibleFailJson as e:
                         fail_json_iterations.append("fail_json message: %s\noptions:\n%s" %
                                                     (str(e), json.dumps(options, sort_keys=True, indent=4, separators=(',', ': '))))