diff --git a/plugins/modules/capabilities.py b/plugins/modules/capabilities.py
index b3143df0a4..91f2c5527b 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/capabilities.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/capabilities.py
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ class CapabilitiesModule(object):
             if ' =' in stdout:
                 # process output of an older version of libcap
                 caps = stdout.split(' =')[1].strip().split()
+            elif stdout.strip().endswith(")"): # '/foo (Error Message)'
+                self.module.fail_json(msg="Unable to get capabilities of %s" % path, stdout=stdout.strip(), stderr=stderr)
             else:
                 # otherwise, we have a newer version here
                 # see original commit message of cap/v0.2.40-18-g177cd41 in libcap.git