diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/59471-systemd-wait-while-deactivating.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/59471-systemd-wait-while-deactivating.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..455992dfb2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/59471-systemd-wait-while-deactivating.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - systemd - wait for a service which is in deactivating state when using ``state=stopped`` (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/59471)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
index 47424a4cef4..fd35ab69b2a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/systemd.py
@@ -270,7 +270,11 @@ from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
 
 
 def is_running_service(service_status):
-    return service_status['ActiveState'] in set(['active', 'activating'])
+    return service_status['ActiveState'] in set(['active', 'activating', 'deactivating'])
+
+
+def is_deactivating_service(service_status):
+    return service_status['ActiveState'] in set(['deactivating'])
 
 
 def request_was_ignored(out):
@@ -498,7 +502,7 @@ def main():
                     if not is_running_service(result['status']):
                         action = 'start'
                 elif module.params['state'] == 'stopped':
-                    if is_running_service(result['status']):
+                    if is_running_service(result['status']) or is_deactivating_service(result['status']):
                         action = 'stop'
                 else:
                     if not is_running_service(result['status']):