diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/4154-ini_file_changed.yml b/changelogs/fragments/4154-ini_file_changed.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f3dbb6bab8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/4154-ini_file_changed.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - ini_file - when removing nothing do not report changed (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/4154).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/files/ini_file.py b/plugins/modules/files/ini_file.py
index f25cc063ff..79d373f3a7 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/files/ini_file.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/files/ini_file.py
@@ -367,9 +367,10 @@ def do_ini(module, filename, section=None, option=None, values=None,
                     section_lines = new_section_lines
         else:
             # drop the entire section
-            section_lines = []
-            msg = 'section removed'
-            changed = True
+            if section_lines:
+                section_lines = []
+                msg = 'section removed'
+                changed = True
 
     # reassemble the ini_lines after manipulation
     ini_lines = before + section_lines + after
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
index c3ef6b61a6..645490d111 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/ini_file/tasks/tests/02-values.yml
@@ -504,6 +504,13 @@
     state: absent
   register: result20
 
+- name: test-values 20 - remove section 'drinks' again to ensure idempotency"
+  ini_file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    section: drinks
+    state: absent
+  register: result20_remove_again  
+
 - name: test-values 20 - read content from output file
   slurp:
     src: "{{ output_file }}"
@@ -517,6 +524,7 @@
   assert:
     that:
       - result20 is changed
+      - result20_remove_again is not changed
       - result20.msg == 'section removed'
       - content20 == "\n"