diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/service.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/service.py
index b0d8ee33cf..ac41b6e3a0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/service.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/service.py
@@ -45,6 +45,6 @@ def get_sysv_script(name):
 def sysv_exists(name):
     return os.path.exists(get_sysv_script(name))
 
-def fail_if_missing(module, found, service):
+def fail_if_missing(module, found, service, msg=''):
     if not found:
-        module.fail_json(msg='Could not find the requested service %s' % (service))
+        module.fail_json(msg='Could not find the requested service %s: %s' % (service, msg))