diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
index f7a9bbf414..e8014d1c33 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def get_distribution():
     ''' return the distribution name '''
     if platform.system() == 'Linux':
         try:
-            supported_dists = platform._supported_dists + ('arch',)
+            supported_dists = platform._supported_dists + ('arch','alpine')
             distribution = platform.linux_distribution(supported_dists=supported_dists)[0].capitalize()
             if not distribution and os.path.isfile('/etc/system-release'):
                 distribution = platform.linux_distribution(supported_dists=['system'])[0].capitalize()