diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/fix-open-url.yml b/changelogs/fragments/fix-open-url.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c8c47e4001b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/fix-open-url.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- urls - Only assume GET method if data is empty, otherwise POST
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/urls.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/urls.py
index 6f6508500c6..25dc35504eb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/urls.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/urls.py
@@ -1136,7 +1136,7 @@ def open_url(url, data=None, headers=None, method=None, use_proxy=True,
 
     Does not require the module environment
     '''
-    method = method or 'GET'
+    method = method or ('POST' if data else 'GET')
     return Request().open(method, url, data=data, headers=headers, use_proxy=use_proxy,
                           force=force, last_mod_time=last_mod_time, timeout=timeout, validate_certs=validate_certs,
                           url_username=url_username, url_password=url_password, http_agent=http_agent,