diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/check_mode_markers.yml b/changelogs/fragments/check_mode_markers.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..756bd9d35b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/check_mode_markers.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - Add new option to default standard out callback plugin, ``ANSIBLE_CHECK_MODE_MARKERS``, which adds check mode markers (``DRY RUN``, ``CHECK_MODE``) to the output when running in check mode. It is off by default.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/default.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/default.py
index a1648fcc9f1..98c66ab68a8 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/default.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/callback/default.py
@@ -16,8 +16,27 @@ DOCUMENTATION = '''
       - default_callback
     requirements:
       - set as stdout in configuration
+    options:
+      check_mode_markers:
+        name: Show markers when running in check mode
+        description:
+        - "Toggle to control displaying markers when running in check mode. The markers are C(DRY RUN)
+        at the beggining and ending of playbook execution (when calling C(ansible-playbook --check))
+        and C(CHECK MODE) as a suffix at every play and task that is run in check mode."
+        type: bool
+        default: no
+        version_added: 2.9
+        env:
+          - name: ANSIBLE_CHECK_MODE_MARKERS
+        ini:
+          - key: check_mode_markers
+            section: defaults
 '''
 
+# NOTE: check_mode_markers functionality is also implemented in the following derived plugins:
+#       debug.py, yaml.py, dense.py. Maybe their documentation needs updating, too.
+
+
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible import context
 from ansible.playbook.task_include import TaskInclude
@@ -33,10 +52,12 @@ from ansible.utils.color import colorize, hostcolor
 
 # these are used to provide backwards compat with old plugins that subclass from default
 # but still don't use the new config system and/or fail to document the options
+# TODO: Change the default of check_mode_markers to True in a future release (2.13)
 COMPAT_OPTIONS = (('display_skipped_hosts', C.DISPLAY_SKIPPED_HOSTS),
                   ('display_ok_hosts', True),
                   ('show_custom_stats', C.SHOW_CUSTOM_STATS),
-                  ('display_failed_stderr', False),)
+                  ('display_failed_stderr', False),
+                  ('check_mode_markers', False),)
 
 
 class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
@@ -213,7 +234,11 @@ class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
         if task_name is None:
             task_name = task.get_name().strip()
 
-        self._display.banner(u"%s [%s%s]" % (prefix, task_name, args))
+        if task.check_mode and self.check_mode_markers:
+            checkmsg = " [CHECK MODE]"
+        else:
+            checkmsg = ""
+        self._display.banner(u"%s [%s%s]%s" % (prefix, task_name, args, checkmsg))
         if self._display.verbosity >= 2:
             path = task.get_path()
             if path:
@@ -233,10 +258,14 @@ class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
 
     def v2_playbook_on_play_start(self, play):
         name = play.get_name().strip()
-        if not name:
-            msg = u"PLAY"
+        if play.check_mode and self.check_mode_markers:
+            checkmsg = " [CHECK MODE]"
         else:
-            msg = u"PLAY [%s]" % name
+            checkmsg = ""
+        if not name:
+            msg = u"PLAY%s" % checkmsg
+        else:
+            msg = u"PLAY [%s]%s" % (name, checkmsg)
 
         self._play = play
 
@@ -378,6 +407,9 @@ class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
                 self._display.display('\tRUN: %s' % self._dump_results(stats.custom['_run'], indent=1).replace('\n', ''))
             self._display.display("", screen_only=True)
 
+        if context.CLIARGS['check'] and self.check_mode_markers:
+            self._display.banner("DRY RUN")
+
     def v2_playbook_on_start(self, playbook):
         if self._display.verbosity > 1:
             from os.path import basename
@@ -394,6 +426,9 @@ class CallbackModule(CallbackBase):
                 if val:
                     self._display.display('%s: %s' % (argument, val), color=C.COLOR_VERBOSE, screen_only=True)
 
+        if context.CLIARGS['check'] and self.check_mode_markers:
+            self._display.banner("DRY RUN")
+
     def v2_runner_retry(self, result):
         task_name = result.task_name or result._task
         msg = "FAILED - RETRYING: %s (%d retries left)." % (task_name, result._result['retries'] - result._result['attempts'])
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stderr b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..431a0200e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
++ ansible-playbook -i inventory --check test_dryrun.yml
+++ set +x
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stdout b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8a3490977b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_dry.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+
+DRY RUN ************************************************************************
+
+PLAY [A common play] [CHECK MODE] **********************************************
+
+TASK [debug] [CHECK MODE] ******************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] [CHECK MODE] ****************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: true (runs always in check_mode)] [CHECK MODE] *****
+
+TASK [debug] [CHECK MODE] ******************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] [CHECK MODE] ****************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: false (runs always in wet mode)] *******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ********************
+
+TASK [Command] [CHECK MODE] ****************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: false] [CHECK MODE] *******************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
+testhost                   : ok=10   changed=7    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=8    rescued=0    ignored=0   
+
+
+DRY RUN ************************************************************************
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stderr b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e4309428ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
++ ansible-playbook -i inventory test_dryrun.yml
+++ set +x
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stdout b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f5f45105afb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_markers_wet.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+
+PLAY [A common play] ***********************************************************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: true (runs always in check_mode)] [CHECK MODE] *****
+
+TASK [debug] [CHECK MODE] ******************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] [CHECK MODE] ****************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: false (runs always in wet mode)] *******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: true] *********************************
+
+TASK [Command] [CHECK MODE] ****************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: false] ********************************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] [CHECK MODE] ******************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
+testhost                   : ok=11   changed=8    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=7    rescued=0    ignored=0   
+
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stderr b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..431a0200e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
++ ansible-playbook -i inventory --check test_dryrun.yml
+++ set +x
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stdout b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e984d499dfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_dry.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+
+PLAY [A common play] ***********************************************************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: true (runs always in check_mode)] ******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: false (runs always in wet mode)] *******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: True"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: true] *********************************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: false] ********************************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
+testhost                   : ok=10   changed=7    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=8    rescued=0    ignored=0   
+
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stderr b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e4309428ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
++ ansible-playbook -i inventory test_dryrun.yml
+++ set +x
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stdout b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b331bb8e53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/callback_default.out.check_nomarkers_wet.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+
+PLAY [A common play] ***********************************************************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: true (runs always in check_mode)] ******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with check_mode: false (runs always in wet mode)] *******************
+
+TASK [debug] *******************************************************************
+ok: [testhost] => {
+    "msg": "ansible_check_mode: False"
+}
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: true] *********************************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY [Play with a block with check_mode: false] ********************************
+
+TASK [Command] *****************************************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: false] ******************************************
+changed: [testhost]
+
+TASK [Command with check_mode: true] *******************************************
+skipping: [testhost]
+
+PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
+testhost                   : ok=11   changed=8    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=7    rescued=0    ignored=0   
+
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/runme.sh
index f52b4367af4..d394c7c5613 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/runme.sh
@@ -28,6 +28,26 @@ run_test() {
 	diff -u "${ORIGFILE}.${testname}.stderr" "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stderr" || diff_failure
 }
 
+run_test_dryrun() {
+	local testname=$1
+	# optional, pass --check to run a dry run
+	local chk=${2:-}
+
+	# This needed to satisfy shellcheck that can not accept unquoted variable
+	cmd="ansible-playbook -i inventory ${chk} test_dryrun.yml"
+
+	# The shenanigans with redirection and 'tee' are to capture STDOUT and
+	# STDERR separately while still displaying both to the console
+	{ $cmd \
+		> >(set +x; tee "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stdout"); } \
+		2> >(set +x; tee "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stderr" >&2)
+	# Scrub deprication warning that shows up in Python 2.6 on CentOS 6
+	sed -i -e '/RandomPool_DeprecationWarning/d' "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stderr"
+
+	diff -u "${ORIGFILE}.${testname}.stdout" "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stdout" || diff_failure
+	diff -u "${ORIGFILE}.${testname}.stderr" "${OUTFILE}.${testname}.stderr" || diff_failure
+}
+
 diff_failure() {
 	if [[ $INIT = 0 ]]; then
 		echo "FAILURE...diff mismatch!"
@@ -41,11 +61,11 @@ cleanup() {
 	fi
 
 	if [[ -f "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stdout" ]]; then
-	    rm -rf "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stdout"
+		rm -rf "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stdout"
 	fi
 
 	if [[ -f "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stderr" ]]; then
-	    rm -rf "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stderr"
+		rm -rf "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stderr"
 	fi
 
 	# Restore TTY cols
@@ -91,6 +111,7 @@ export ANSIBLE_NOCOLOR=1
 export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_SKIPPED_HOSTS=1
 export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_OK_HOSTS=1
 export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_FAILED_STDERR=0
+export ANSIBLE_CHECK_MODE_MARKERS=0
 
 run_test default
 
@@ -128,6 +149,30 @@ set +e
 ansible-playbook -i inventory test_2.yml > >(set +x; tee "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stdout";) 2> >(set +x; tee "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stderr" >&2) || true
 set -e
 if test "$(grep -c 'UNREACHABLE' "${BASEFILE}.unreachable.stderr")" -ne 1; then
-    echo "Test failed"
-    exit 1
+	echo "Test failed"
+	exit 1
 fi
+
+## DRY RUN tests
+#
+# Default settings with dry run tasks
+export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_SKIPPED_HOSTS=1
+export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_OK_HOSTS=1
+export ANSIBLE_DISPLAY_FAILED_STDERR=1
+# Enable Check mode markers
+export ANSIBLE_CHECK_MODE_MARKERS=1
+
+# Test the wet run with check markers
+run_test_dryrun check_markers_wet
+
+# Test the dry run with check markers
+run_test_dryrun check_markers_dry --check
+
+# Disable Check mode markers
+export ANSIBLE_CHECK_MODE_MARKERS=0
+
+# Test the wet run without check markers
+run_test_dryrun check_nomarkers_wet
+
+# Test the dry run without check markers
+run_test_dryrun check_nomarkers_dry --check
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/callback_default/test_dryrun.yml b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/test_dryrun.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..26cf08316a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/callback_default/test_dryrun.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+---
+- name: A common play
+  hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: no
+  tasks:
+  - debug: 
+      msg: 'ansible_check_mode: {{ansible_check_mode}}'
+
+  - name: Command
+    command: ls -l
+
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: false"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: false
+
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: true"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: true
+
+
+- name: "Play with check_mode: true (runs always in check_mode)"
+  hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: no
+  check_mode: true
+  tasks:
+  - debug: 
+      msg: 'ansible_check_mode: {{ansible_check_mode}}'
+
+  - name: Command
+    command: ls -l
+ 
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: false"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: false
+
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: true"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: true
+
+
+- name: "Play with check_mode: false (runs always in wet mode)"
+  hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: no
+  check_mode: false
+  tasks:
+  - debug: 
+      msg: 'ansible_check_mode: {{ansible_check_mode}}'
+
+  - name: Command
+    command: ls -l
+
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: false"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: false
+
+  - name: "Command with check_mode: true"
+    command: ls -l
+    check_mode: true
+
+
+- name: "Play with a block with check_mode: true"
+  hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: no
+  tasks:
+  - block:
+    - name: Command
+      command: ls -l
+
+    - name: "Command with check_mode: false"
+      command: ls -l
+      check_mode: false
+
+    - name: "Command with check_mode: true"
+      command: ls -l
+      check_mode: true
+    check_mode: true
+
+- name: "Play with a block with check_mode: false"
+  hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: no
+  tasks:
+  - block:
+    - name: Command
+      command: ls -l
+
+    - name: "Command with check_mode: false"
+      command: ls -l
+      check_mode: false
+
+    - name: "Command with check_mode: true"
+      command: ls -l
+      check_mode: true
+    check_mode: false