diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/file_modification_times_support_check_mode.yml b/changelogs/fragments/file_modification_times_support_check_mode.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..64600655b83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/file_modification_times_support_check_mode.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - ansible.builtin.file modification_time supports check_mode
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/file.py b/lib/ansible/modules/file.py
index 65b4e6c1eea..44963778583 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/file.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/file.py
@@ -469,7 +469,8 @@ def update_timestamp_for_file(path, mtime, atime, diff=None):
 
             set_time = (atime, mtime)
 
-        os.utime(b_path, set_time)
+        if not module.check_mode:
+            os.utime(b_path, set_time)
 
         if diff is not None:
             if 'before' not in diff:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
index db56bd2d44c..a74cbc289e5 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/main.yml
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
 - name: Test _diff_peek
   import_tasks: diff_peek.yml
 
+- name: Test modification time
+  import_tasks: modification_time.yml
 
 # These tests need to be organized by state parameter into separate files later
 
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/modification_time.yml b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/modification_time.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..daec03627cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/file/tasks/modification_time.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# file module tests for dealing with modification_time
+
+- name: Initialize the test output dir
+  import_tasks: initialize.yml
+
+- name: Setup the modification time for the tests
+  set_fact:
+    modification_timestamp: "202202081414.00"
+
+- name: Get stat info for the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: initial_file_stat
+
+- name: Set a modification time in check_mode
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    modification_time: "{{ modification_timestamp }}"
+    modification_time_format: "%Y%m%d%H%M.%S"
+  check_mode: true
+  register: file_change_check_mode
+
+- name: Re-stat the file
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: check_mode_stat
+
+- name: Confirm check_mode did not change the file
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - initial_file_stat.stat.mtime == check_mode_stat.stat.mtime
+      # Ensure the changed flag was set
+      - file_change_check_mode.changed
+      # Ensure the diff is present
+      # Note: file diff always contains the path
+      - file_change_check_mode.diff.after | length > 1
+
+- name: Set a modification time for real
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    modification_time: "{{ modification_timestamp }}"
+    modification_time_format: "%Y%m%d%H%M.%S"
+  register: file_change_no_check_mode
+
+- name: Stat of the file after the change
+  stat:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+  register: change_stat
+
+- name: Confirm the modification time changed
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - initial_file_stat.stat.mtime != change_stat.stat.mtime
+      - file_change_no_check_mode.changed
+      # Note: file diff always contains the path
+      - file_change_no_check_mode.diff.after | length > 1
+
+- name: Set a modification time a second time to confirm no changes or diffs
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ output_file }}"
+    modification_time: "{{ modification_timestamp }}"
+    modification_time_format: "%Y%m%d%H%M.%S"
+  register: file_change_no_check_mode_second
+
+- name: Confirm no changes made registered
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - not file_change_no_check_mode_second.changed
+      # Note: file diff always contains the path
+      - file_change_no_check_mode_second.diff.after | length == 1