diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
index b0e39993a9f..2e89fb87399 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/service.py
@@ -514,27 +514,30 @@ class LinuxService(Service):
         value_buffer = []
         status_dict = {}
         for line in out.splitlines():
-            if not key:
-                key, value = line.split('=', 1)
-                # systemd fields that are shell commands can be multi-line
-                # We take a value that begins with a "{" as the start of
-                # a shell command and a line that ends with "}" as the end of
-                # the command
-                if value.lstrip().startswith('{'):
-                    if value.rstrip().endswith('}'):
+            if '=' in line:
+                if not key:
+                    key, value = line.split('=', 1)
+                    # systemd fields that are shell commands can be multi-line
+                    # We take a value that begins with a "{" as the start of
+                    # a shell command and a line that ends with "}" as the end of
+                    # the command
+                    if value.lstrip().startswith('{'):
+                        if value.rstrip().endswith('}'):
+                            status_dict[key] = value
+                            key = None
+                        else:
+                            value_buffer.append(value)
+                    else:
                         status_dict[key] = value
                         key = None
+                else:
+                    if line.rstrip().endswith('}'):
+                        status_dict[key] = '\n'.join(value_buffer)
+                        key = None
                     else:
                         value_buffer.append(value)
-                else:
-                    status_dict[key] = value
-                    key = None
             else:
-                if line.rstrip().endswith('}'):
-                    status_dict[key] = '\n'.join(value_buffer)
-                    key = None
-                else:
-                    value_buffer.append(value)
+                value_buffer.append(value)
 
         return status_dict