diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/7273-ini_file_ignore_spaces.yml b/changelogs/fragments/7273-ini_file_ignore_spaces.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4f5723777c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/7273-ini_file_ignore_spaces.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - ini_file - add ``ignore_spaces`` option (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/7273).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
index f084ce6b03..8e67a832ec 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2012, Jan-Piet Mens <jpmens () gmail.com>
 # Copyright (c) 2015, Ales Nosek <anosek.nosek () gmail.com>
 # Copyright (c) 2017, Ansible Project
+# Copyright (c) 2023, Ansible Project
 # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
@@ -98,6 +99,12 @@ options:
       - Do not insert spaces before and after '=' symbol.
     type: bool
     default: false
+  ignore_spaces:
+    description:
+      - Do not change a line if doing so would only add or remove spaces before or after the V(=) symbol.
+    type: bool
+    default: false
+    version_added: 7.5.0
   create:
     description:
       - If set to V(false), the module will fail if the file does not already exist.
@@ -178,7 +185,7 @@ from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_bytes, to_text
 
 def match_opt(option, line):
     option = re.escape(option)
-    return re.match('[#;]?( |\t)*(%s)( |\t)*(=|$)( |\t)*(.*)' % option, line)
+    return re.match('([#;]?)( |\t)*(%s)( |\t)*(=|$)( |\t)*(.*)' % option, line)
 
 
 def match_active_opt(option, line):
@@ -186,19 +193,27 @@ def match_active_opt(option, line):
     return re.match('( |\t)*(%s)( |\t)*(=|$)( |\t)*(.*)' % option, line)
 
 
-def update_section_line(changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, newline, msg):
-    option_changed = section_lines[index] != newline
+def update_section_line(option, changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, ignore_spaces, newline, msg):
+    option_changed = None
+    if ignore_spaces:
+        old_match = match_opt(option, section_lines[index])
+        if not old_match.group(1):
+            new_match = match_opt(option, newline)
+            option_changed = old_match.group(7) != new_match.group(7)
+    if option_changed is None:
+        option_changed = section_lines[index] != newline
+    if option_changed:
+        section_lines[index] = newline
     changed = changed or option_changed
     if option_changed:
         msg = 'option changed'
-    section_lines[index] = newline
     changed_lines[index] = 1
     return (changed, msg)
 
 
 def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
            state='present', exclusive=True, backup=False, no_extra_spaces=False,
-           create=True, allow_no_value=False, follow=False):
+           ignore_spaces=False, create=True, allow_no_value=False, follow=False):
 
     if section is not None:
         section = to_text(section)
@@ -306,8 +321,8 @@ def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
         for index, line in enumerate(section_lines):
             if match_opt(option, line):
                 match = match_opt(option, line)
-                if values and match.group(6) in values:
-                    matched_value = match.group(6)
+                if values and match.group(7) in values:
+                    matched_value = match.group(7)
                     if not matched_value and allow_no_value:
                         # replace existing option with no value line(s)
                         newline = u'%s\n' % option
@@ -315,12 +330,12 @@ def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
                     else:
                         # replace existing option=value line(s)
                         newline = assignment_format % (option, matched_value)
-                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, newline, msg)
+                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(option, changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, ignore_spaces, newline, msg)
                     values.remove(matched_value)
                 elif not values and allow_no_value:
                     # replace existing option with no value line(s)
                     newline = u'%s\n' % option
-                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, newline, msg)
+                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(option, changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, ignore_spaces, newline, msg)
                     option_no_value_present = True
                     break
 
@@ -330,7 +345,7 @@ def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
             for index, line in enumerate(section_lines):
                 if not changed_lines[index] and match_opt(option, line):
                     newline = assignment_format % (option, values.pop(0))
-                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, newline, msg)
+                    (changed, msg) = update_section_line(option, changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, ignore_spaces, newline, msg)
                     if len(values) == 0:
                         break
         # remove all remaining option occurrences from the rest of the section
@@ -449,6 +464,7 @@ def main():
             state=dict(type='str', default='present', choices=['absent', 'present']),
             exclusive=dict(type='bool', default=True),
             no_extra_spaces=dict(type='bool', default=False),
+            ignore_spaces=dict(type='bool', default=False),
             allow_no_value=dict(type='bool', default=False),
             create=dict(type='bool', default=True),
             follow=dict(type='bool', default=False)
@@ -469,6 +485,7 @@ def main():
     exclusive = module.params['exclusive']
     backup = module.params['backup']
     no_extra_spaces = module.params['no_extra_spaces']
+    ignore_spaces = module.params['ignore_spaces']
     allow_no_value = module.params['allow_no_value']
     create = module.params['create']
     follow = module.params['follow']
@@ -481,7 +498,9 @@ def main():
     elif values is None:
         values = []
 
-    (changed, backup_file, diff, msg) = do_ini(module, path, section, option, values, state, exclusive, backup, no_extra_spaces, create, allow_no_value, follow)
+    (changed, backup_file, diff, msg) = do_ini(
+        module, path, section, option, values, state, exclusive, backup,
+        no_extra_spaces, ignore_spaces, create, allow_no_value, follow)
 
     if not module.check_mode and os.path.exists(path):
         file_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(module.params)
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/main.yml
index 11c5bf3b23..2fa54cd98c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/main.yml
@@ -38,3 +38,9 @@
 
     - name: include tasks to test regressions
       include_tasks: tests/03-encoding.yml
+
+    - name: include tasks to test symlink handling
+      include_tasks: tests/04-symlink.yml
+
+    - name: include tasks to test ignore_spaces
+      include_tasks: tests/05-ignore_spaces.yml
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/00-basic.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/00-basic.yml
index c619e937a5..2d0ab3ac4c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/00-basic.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/00-basic.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
-## basiscs
+## basics
 
 - name: test-basic 1 - specify both "value" and "values" and fail
   ini_file:
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/04-symlink.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/04-symlink.yml
index de677bffad..7e83a010d0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/04-symlink.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/04-symlink.yml
@@ -9,26 +9,26 @@
       content: |
         [main]
         foo=BAR
-      dest: my_original_file.ini
+      dest: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/my_original_file.ini"
   - name: Clean up symlink.ini
     ansible.builtin.file:
-      path: symlink.ini
+      path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/symlink.ini"
       state: absent
   - name: Create a symbolic link
     ansible.builtin.file:
       src: my_original_file.ini
-      dest: symlink.ini
+      dest: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/symlink.ini"
       state: link
 
 - name: Set the proxy key on the symlink which will be converted as a file
   community.general.ini_file:
-    path: symlink.ini
+    path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/symlink.ini"
     section: main
     option: proxy
     value: 'http://proxy.myorg.org:3128'
 - name: Set the proxy key on the final file that is still unchanged
   community.general.ini_file:
-    path: my_original_file.ini
+    path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/my_original_file.ini"
     section: main
     option: proxy
     value: 'http://proxy.myorg.org:3128'
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 - block: *prepare
 - name: Set the proxy key on the symlink which will be preserved
   community.general.ini_file:
-    path: symlink.ini
+    path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/symlink.ini"
     section: main
     option: proxy
     value: 'http://proxy.myorg.org:3128'
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
   register: result
 - name: Set the proxy key on the target directly that was changed in the previous step
   community.general.ini_file:
-    path: my_original_file.ini
+    path: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/my_original_file.ini"
     section: main
     option: proxy
     value: 'http://proxy.myorg.org:3128'
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/05-ignore_spaces.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/05-ignore_spaces.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3c4b068fb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/05-ignore_spaces.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+## testing ignore_spaces option
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 1 (commented line updated) - create test file
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ output_file }}"
+    content: "[foo]\n; bar=baz\n"
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 1 - set new value
+  ini_file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    section: foo
+    option: bar
+    value: frelt
+    ignore_spaces: true
+  register: result
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 1 - read content from output file
+  slurp:
+    src: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: output_content
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 1 - verify results
+  vars:
+    actual_content: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+    expected_content: "[foo]\nbar = frelt\n"
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - actual_content == expected_content
+      - result is changed
+      - result.msg == 'option changed'
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 2 (uncommented line updated) - create test file
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ output_file }}"
+    content: "[foo]\nbar=baz\n"
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 2 - set new value
+  ini_file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    section: foo
+    option: bar
+    value: frelt
+    ignore_spaces: true
+  register: result
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 2 - read content from output file
+  slurp:
+    src: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: output_content
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 2 - verify results
+  vars:
+    actual_content: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+    expected_content: "[foo]\nbar = frelt\n"
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - actual_content == expected_content
+      - result is changed
+      - result.msg == 'option changed'
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 3 (spaces on top of no spaces) - create test file
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ output_file }}"
+    content: "[foo]\nbar=baz\n"
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 3 - try to set value
+  ini_file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    section: foo
+    option: bar
+    value: baz
+    ignore_spaces: true
+  register: result
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 3 - read content from output file
+  slurp:
+    src: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: output_content
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 3 - verify results
+  vars:
+    actual_content: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+    expected_content: "[foo]\nbar=baz\n"
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - actual_content == expected_content
+      - result is not changed
+      - result.msg == "OK"
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 4 (no spaces on top of spaces) - create test file
+  copy:
+    dest: "{{ output_file }}"
+    content: "[foo]\nbar = baz\n"
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 4 - try to set value
+  ini_file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    section: foo
+    option: bar
+    value: baz
+    ignore_spaces: true
+    no_extra_spaces: true
+  register: result
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 4 - read content from output file
+  slurp:
+    src: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: output_content
+
+- name: test-ignore_spaces 4 - verify results
+  vars:
+    actual_content: "{{ output_content.content | b64decode }}"
+    expected_content: "[foo]\nbar = baz\n"
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - actual_content == expected_content
+      - result is not changed
+      - result.msg == "OK"
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a65a9c3261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2023 Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or
+# https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.modules import ini_file
+
+
+def do_test(option, ignore_spaces, newline, before, expected_after,
+            expected_changed, expected_msg):
+    section_lines = [before]
+    changed_lines = [0]
+    changed, msg = ini_file.update_section_line(
+        option, None, section_lines, 0, changed_lines, ignore_spaces,
+        newline, None)
+    assert section_lines[0] == expected_after
+    assert changed == expected_changed
+    assert changed_lines[0] == 1
+    assert msg == expected_msg
+
+
+def test_ignore_spaces_comment():
+    oldline = ';foobar=baz'
+    newline = 'foobar = baz'
+    do_test('foobar', True, newline, oldline, newline, True, 'option changed')
+
+
+def test_ignore_spaces_changed():
+    oldline = 'foobar=baz'
+    newline = 'foobar = freeble'
+    do_test('foobar', True, newline, oldline, newline, True, 'option changed')
+
+
+def test_ignore_spaces_unchanged():
+    oldline = 'foobar=baz'
+    newline = 'foobar = baz'
+    do_test('foobar', True, newline, oldline, oldline, False, None)
+
+
+def test_no_ignore_spaces_changed():
+    oldline = 'foobar=baz'
+    newline = 'foobar = baz'
+    do_test('foobar', False, newline, oldline, newline, True, 'option changed')
+
+
+def test_no_ignore_spaces_unchanged():
+    newline = 'foobar=baz'
+    do_test('foobar', False, newline, newline, newline, False, None)