diff --git a/packaging/os/apt.py b/packaging/os/apt.py
index 9b8389ea011..43474f24a61 100755
--- a/packaging/os/apt.py
+++ b/packaging/os/apt.py
@@ -579,6 +579,8 @@ def main():
     module.run_command_environ_update = APT_ENV_VARS
 
     if not HAS_PYTHON_APT:
+        if module.check_mode:
+            module.fail_json(msg="python-apt must be installed to use check mode")
         try:
             module.run_command('apt-get update && apt-get install python-apt -y -q --force-yes', use_unsafe_shell=True, check_rc=True)
             global apt, apt_pkg