diff --git a/plugins/modules/podman_container_exec.py b/plugins/modules/podman_container_exec.py
index d30e85c..73d71b7 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/podman_container_exec.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/podman_container_exec.py
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ options:
     description:
       - Set environment variables.
     type: dict
+  executable:
+    description:
+        - The path to the podman executable.
+    type: str
+    default: podman
   privileged:
     description:
       - Give extended privileges to the container.
@@ -141,6 +146,7 @@ def run_container_exec(module: AnsibleModule) -> dict:
     tty = module.params['tty']
     user = module.params['user']
     workdir = module.params['workdir']
+    executable = module.params['executable']
 
     if command is not None:
         argv = shlex.split(command)
@@ -178,7 +184,7 @@ def run_container_exec(module: AnsibleModule) -> dict:
     exec_with_args.extend(exec_options)
 
     rc, stdout, stderr = run_podman_command(
-        module=module, executable='podman', args=exec_with_args)
+        module=module, executable=executable, args=exec_with_args, ignore_errors=True)
 
     result = {
         'changed': changed,
@@ -211,6 +217,10 @@ def main():
             'type': 'bool',
             'default': False,
         },
+        'executable': {
+            'type': 'str',
+            'default': 'podman',
+        },
         'env': {
             'type': 'dict',
         },
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/podman_container_exec/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/podman_container_exec/tasks/main.yml
index 2d28743..623965c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/podman_container_exec/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/podman_container_exec/tasks/main.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
     - name: Test exec when the container doesn't exist
       containers.podman.podman_container_exec:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
         name: "{{ container_name }}"
         command: "cat /etc/redhat-release"
       ignore_errors: true
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@
 
     - name: Create and start a container for testing
       containers.podman.podman_container:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
         name: "{{ container_name }}"
         image: registry.access.redhat.com/ubi8
         command: sleep 1d
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@
 
     - name: Test exec with command and workdir options
       containers.podman.podman_container_exec:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
         name: "{{ container_name }}"
         command: "cat redhat-release"
         workdir: /etc
@@ -33,6 +36,7 @@
 
     - name: Test exec with argv and env options
       containers.podman.podman_container_exec:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
         name: "{{ container_name }}"
         argv:
           - /bin/sh
@@ -45,6 +49,7 @@
 
     - name: Test exec with detach option
       containers.podman.podman_container_exec:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
         name: "{{ container_name }}"
         command: "cat redhat-release"
         detach: true
@@ -59,6 +64,21 @@
           - "'goodbye world' in exec2.stdout"
           - exec3.exec_id is defined
 
+    - name: Test exec with failing command
+      containers.podman.podman_container_exec:
+        executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+        name: "{{ container_name }}"
+        command: "ls /nonexistent"
+      register: exec4
+      ignore_errors: true
+
+    - name: Check if the result is as expected in case of a failing command
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - exec4 is failed
+          - "'No such file or directory' in exec4.stderr"
+          - exec4.rc != 0
+
   always:
     - name: Cleanup
       containers.podman.podman_container: