diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/6383-deps-failed.yml b/changelogs/fragments/6383-deps-failed.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bcd35a7207
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/6383-deps-failed.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - deps module utils - add function ``failed()`` providing the ability to check the dependency check result without triggering an exception (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/6383).
diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/deps.py b/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
index bfb94cbc09..f6f4082a36 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/deps.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class _Dependency(object):
     def failed(self):
         return self.state == 1
 
-    def verify(self, module):
+    def validate(self, module):
         if self.failed:
             module.fail_json(msg=self.message, exception=self.trace)
 
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ def declare(name, *args, **kwargs):
         _deps[name] = dep
 
 
-def validate(module, spec=None):
+def _select_names(spec):
     dep_names = sorted(_deps)
 
-    if spec is not None:
+    if spec:
         if spec.startswith("-"):
             spec_split = spec[1:].split(":")
             for d in spec_split:
@@ -86,5 +86,13 @@ def validate(module, spec=None):
                 _deps[d]  # ensure it exists
                 dep_names.append(d)
 
-    for dep in dep_names:
-        _deps[dep].verify(module)
+    return dep_names
+
+
+def validate(module, spec=None):
+    for dep in _select_names(spec):
+        _deps[dep].validate(module)
+
+
+def failed(spec=None):
+    return any(_deps[d].failed for d in _select_names(spec))