diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/10918-gitlab-runner-fix-check-mode.yml b/changelogs/fragments/10918-gitlab-runner-fix-check-mode.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..214487938b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/10918-gitlab-runner-fix-check-mode.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - gitlab_runner - fix exception in check mode when a new runner is created (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/8854).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/gitlab_runner.py b/plugins/modules/gitlab_runner.py
index 032f374b4e..889e2471cc 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/gitlab_runner.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/gitlab_runner.py
@@ -343,7 +343,10 @@ class GitLabRunner(object):
     '''
     def create_runner(self, arguments):
         if self._module.check_mode:
-            return True
+            class MockRunner:
+                def __init__(self):
+                    self._attrs = {}
+            return MockRunner()
 
         try:
             if arguments.get('token') is not None: