diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/3976-fix-alternatives-parsing.yml b/changelogs/fragments/3976-fix-alternatives-parsing.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc6dd60b97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/3976-fix-alternatives-parsing.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - alternatives - fix output parsing for alternatives groups (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/3976).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/alternatives.py b/plugins/modules/system/alternatives.py
index 5831382680..fb4c05e110 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/alternatives.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/alternatives.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def main():
         # available alternatives
         current_path_regex = re.compile(r'^\s*link currently points to (.*)$',
                                         re.MULTILINE)
-        alternative_regex = re.compile(r'^(\/.*)\s-\spriority', re.MULTILINE)
+        alternative_regex = re.compile(r'^(\/.*)\s-\s(?:family\s\S+\s)?priority', re.MULTILINE)
 
         match = current_path_regex.search(display_output)
         if match: