diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/280_helm_status.yml b/changelogs/fragments/280_helm_status.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17609eca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/280_helm_status.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- helm - return values in check mode when release is not present (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.kubernetes/issues/280).
diff --git a/molecule/default/roles/helm/tasks/tests_chart.yml b/molecule/default/roles/helm/tasks/tests_chart.yml
index bb600f9b..a79e2a84 100644
--- a/molecule/default/roles/helm/tasks/tests_chart.yml
+++ b/molecule/default/roles/helm/tasks/tests_chart.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,24 @@
       - install_fail is failed
       - "'Error: create: failed to create: namespaces \"' + helm_namespace + '\" not found' in install_fail.stderr"
 
+- name: "Install {{ chart_test }} from {{ source }} in check mode"
+  helm:
+    binary_path: "{{ helm_binary }}"
+    name: test
+    chart_ref: "{{ chart_source }}"
+    chart_version: "{{ chart_source_version | default(omit) }}"
+    namespace: "{{ helm_namespace }}"
+    create_namespace: true
+  register: install_check_mode
+  check_mode: true
+
+- name: "Assert that {{ chart_test }} chart is installed from {{ source }} in check mode"
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - install_check_mode is changed
+      - install_check_mode.status is defined
+      - install_check_mode.status.values is defined
+
 - name: "Install {{ chart_test }} from {{ source }}"
   helm:
     binary_path: "{{ helm_binary }}"
diff --git a/plugins/modules/helm.py b/plugins/modules/helm.py
index 9df885c9..16d5d4d5 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/helm.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/helm.py
@@ -537,10 +537,15 @@ def main():
                 changed = True
 
     if module.check_mode:
-        check_status = {'values': {
-            "current": release_status['values'],
-            "declared": release_values
-        }}
+        check_status = {
+            'values': {
+                "current": {},
+                "declared": {},
+            }
+        }
+        if release_status:
+            check_status['values']['current'] = release_status['values']
+            check_status['values']['declared'] = release_status
 
         module.exit_json(
             changed=changed,