diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
index 98826c5eb31..e2a88c89f28 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysctl.py
@@ -386,9 +386,21 @@ def main():
             ignoreerrors = dict(default=False, type='bool'),
             sysctl_file = dict(default='/etc/sysctl.conf', type='path')
         ),
-        supports_check_mode=True
+        supports_check_mode=True,
+        required_if=[('state', 'present', ['value'])],
     )
 
+    if module.params['name'] is None:
+        module.fail_json(msg="name can not be None")
+    if module.params['state'] == 'present' and module.params['value'] is None:
+        module.fail_json(msg="value can not be None")
+
+    # In case of in-line params
+    if module.params['name'] == '':
+        module.fail_json(msg="name can not be blank")
+    if module.params['state'] == 'present' and module.params['value'] == '':
+        module.fail_json(msg="value can not be blank")
+
     result = SysctlModule(module)
 
     module.exit_json(changed=result.changed)