diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/os/portage.py b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/os/portage.py
index 124008c652..b47a9d32a2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/os/portage.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/packaging/os/portage.py
@@ -252,6 +252,8 @@ def emerge_packages(module, packages):
                 break
         else:
             module.exit_json(changed=False, msg='Packages already present.')
+        if module.check_mode:
+            module.exit_json(changed=True, msg='Packages would be installed.')
 
     args = []
     emerge_flags = {