diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/9179-deps-tests.yml b/changelogs/fragments/9179-deps-tests.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ddf109033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/9179-deps-tests.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - deps module utils - add ``deps.clear()`` to clear out previously declared dependencies (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/9179).
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/deps.py b/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
index a2413d1952..66847ccd25 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
@@ -96,3 +96,7 @@ def validate(module, spec=None):
 
 def failed(spec=None):
     return any(_deps[d].failed for d in _select_names(spec))
+
+
+def clear():
+    _deps.clear()
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_deps.py b/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_deps.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..70f0eac0fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_deps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# (c) 2024, Alexei Znamensky <russoz@gmail.com>
+# Copyright (c) 2024 Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+__metaclass__ = type
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.tests.unit.compat.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils import deps
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def module():
+    m = MagicMock()
+    m.fail_json.side_effect = RuntimeError
+    return m
+
+
+def test_wrong_name(module):
+    with deps.declare("sys") as sys_dep:
+        import sys  # noqa: F401, pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+    with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+        deps.validate(module, "wrong_name")
+
+
+def test_fail_potatoes(module):
+    with deps.declare("potatoes", reason="Must have potatoes") as potatoes_dep:
+        import potatoes_that_will_never_be_there  # noqa: F401, pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        deps.validate(module)
+
+    assert potatoes_dep.failed is True
+    assert potatoes_dep.message.startswith("Failed to import the required Python library")
+
+
+def test_sys(module):
+    with deps.declare("sys") as sys_dep:
+        import sys  # noqa: F401, pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+    deps.validate(module)
+
+    assert sys_dep.failed is False
+
+
+def test_multiple(module):
+    with deps.declare("mpotatoes", reason="Must have mpotatoes"):
+        import potatoes_that_will_never_be_there  # noqa: F401, pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+    with deps.declare("msys", reason="Must have msys"):
+        import sys  # noqa: F401, pylint: disable=unused-import
+
+    deps.validate(module, "msys")
+    deps.validate(module, "-mpotatoes")
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        deps.validate(module)
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        deps.validate(module, "-msys")
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        deps.validate(module, "mpotatoes")
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_module_helper.py b/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_module_helper.py
index b1e2eafc7f..cbcdaae788 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_module_helper.py
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/module_utils/test_module_helper.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.module_utils.module_helper im
 )
 
 
+# remove in 11.0.0
 def test_dependency_ctxmgr():
     ctx = DependencyCtxMgr("POTATOES", "Potatoes must be installed")
     with ctx:
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ def test_dependency_ctxmgr():
     assert ctx.has_it
 
 
+# remove in 11.0.0
 def test_variable_meta():
     meta = VarMeta()
     assert meta.output is True
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ def test_variable_meta():
     assert meta.diff_result is None
 
 
+# remove in 11.0.0
 def test_variable_meta_diff():
     meta = VarMeta(diff=True)
     assert meta.output is True
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ def test_variable_meta_diff():
     assert meta.diff_result == {"before": "abc", "after": "ghi"}
 
 
+# remove in 11.0.0
 def test_vardict():
     vd = VarDict()
     vd.set('a', 123)
@@ -99,6 +103,7 @@ def test_vardict():
     assert vd.diff() == {'before': {'a': 123}, 'after': {'a': 'new_a'}}, "diff={0}".format(vd.diff())
 
 
+# remove in 11.0.0
 def test_variable_meta_change():
     vd = VarDict()
     vd.set('a', 123, change=True)
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/conftest.py b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/conftest.py
index 6e96c58316..d357137651 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/conftest.py
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ def patch_ansible_module(request, mocker):
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def deps_cleanup():
-    deps._deps.clear()
+    deps.clear()