diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/2185-xfconf-absent-check-mode.yml b/changelogs/fragments/2185-xfconf-absent-check-mode.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..059f4acd9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/2185-xfconf-absent-check-mode.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - xfconf - module was not honoring check mode when ``state`` was ``absent`` (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/2185).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/xfconf.py b/plugins/modules/system/xfconf.py
index b6e6110e87..459991747c 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/xfconf.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/xfconf.py
@@ -237,8 +237,9 @@ class XFConfProperty(CmdMixin, StateMixin, ModuleHelper):
         self.update_xfconf_output(value=self.vars.value)
 
     def state_absent(self):
+        if not self.module.check_mode:
+            self.run_command(params=('channel', 'property', {'reset': True}))
         self.vars.value = None
-        self.run_command(params=('channel', 'property', {'reset': True}))
         self.update_xfconf_output(previous_value=self.vars.previous_value,
                                   value=None)