diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/1081-solaris_zone-python3.yml b/changelogs/fragments/1081-solaris_zone-python3.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..40cd448f5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/1081-solaris_zone-python3.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+---
+bugfixes:
+  - solaris_zone - fixed issue trying to configure zone in Python 3 (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/1081).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/system/solaris_zone.py b/plugins/modules/system/solaris_zone.py
index c188fea326..867b0df56a 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/system/solaris_zone.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/system/solaris_zone.py
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class Zone(object):
             self.module.fail_json(msg='Missing required argument: path')
 
         if not self.module.check_mode:
-            t = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False)
+            t = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, mode='wt')
 
             if self.sparse:
                 t.write('create %s\n' % self.create_options)
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/test_solaris_zone.py b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/test_solaris_zone.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4cf5c5ff7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/system/test_solaris_zone.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2020 Justin Bronn <jbronn@gmail.com>
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see COPYING or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+import json
+import platform
+
+import pytest
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.modules.system import (
+    solaris_zone
+)
+from ansible_collections.community.general.tests.unit.plugins.modules.utils import (
+    set_module_args,
+)
+
+
+ZONEADM = "/usr/sbin/zoneadm"
+
+
+def mocker_zone_set(mocker, rc=0, out="", err="", zone_exists=False, zone_status=None):
+    """
+    Configure common mocker object for Solaris Zone tests
+    """
+    exists = mocker.patch.object(solaris_zone.Zone, "exists")
+    exists.return_value = zone_exists
+    get_bin_path = mocker.patch.object(AnsibleModule, "get_bin_path")
+    get_bin_path.return_value = ZONEADM
+    run_command = mocker.patch.object(AnsibleModule, "run_command")
+    run_command.return_value = (rc, out, err)
+    platform_release = mocker.patch.object(platform, "release")
+    platform_release.return_value = "5.11"
+    platform_system = mocker.patch.object(platform, "system")
+    platform_system.return_value = "SunOS"
+    if zone_status is not None:
+        status = mocker.patch.object(solaris_zone.Zone, "status")
+        status.return_value = zone_status
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mocked_zone_create(mocker):
+    mocker_zone_set(mocker)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mocked_zone_delete(mocker):
+    mocker_zone_set(mocker, zone_exists=True, zone_status="running")
+
+
+def test_zone_create(mocked_zone_create, capfd):
+    """
+    test zone creation
+    """
+    set_module_args(
+        {
+            "name": "z1",
+            "state": "installed",
+            "path": "/zones/z1",
+            "_ansible_check_mode": False,
+        }
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        solaris_zone.main()
+
+    out, err = capfd.readouterr()
+    results = json.loads(out)
+    assert not results.get("failed")
+    assert results["changed"]
+
+
+def test_zone_delete(mocked_zone_delete, capfd):
+    """
+    test zone deletion
+    """
+    set_module_args(
+        {
+            "name": "z1",
+            "state": "absent",
+            "path": "/zones/z1",
+            "_ansible_check_mode": False,
+        }
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        solaris_zone.main()
+
+    out, err = capfd.readouterr()
+    results = json.loads(out)
+    assert not results.get("failed")
+    assert results["changed"]
+
+
+def test_zone_create_invalid_names(mocked_zone_create, capfd):
+    """
+    test zone creation with invalid names
+    """
+    # 1. Invalid character ('!').
+    # 2. Zone name > 64 characters.
+    # 3. Zone name beginning with non-alphanumeric character.
+    for invalid_name in ('foo!bar', 'z' * 65, '_zone'):
+        set_module_args(
+            {
+                "name": invalid_name,
+                "state": "installed",
+                "path": "/zones/" + invalid_name,
+                "_ansible_check_mode": False,
+            }
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+            solaris_zone.main()
+
+        out, err = capfd.readouterr()
+        results = json.loads(out)
+        assert results.get("failed")