diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/11919-ini-file-do-not-delete-comment-only-lines.yml b/changelogs/fragments/11919-ini-file-do-not-delete-comment-only-lines.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bace7fd7c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/11919-ini-file-do-not-delete-comment-only-lines.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - ini_file - do not delete comment-only lines that contain the option name (for example, ``; output_buffering``) when ``state=present`` and ``exclusive=true``; only lines that are actual configuration entries (with ``=``) are now considered for replacement or deletion (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/11919).
diff --git a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
index a8aa9d5f69..c27890db5f 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ini_file.py
@@ -468,7 +468,10 @@ def do_ini(
         # override option with no value to option with value if not allow_no_value
         if len(values) > 0:
             for index, line in enumerate(section_lines):
-                if not changed_lines[index] and match_function(option, line):
+                match = not changed_lines[index] and match_function(option, line)
+                # skip comment-only lines (e.g. "; output_buffering" with no "="):
+                # group(2) is the comment char, group(6) is "=" or "" (end-of-line match)
+                if match and not (match.group(2) and not match.group(6)):
                     newline = f"{option}{sep}{values.pop(0)}\n"
                     (changed, msg) = update_section_line(
                         option, changed, section_lines, index, changed_lines, ignore_spaces, newline, msg
@@ -477,7 +480,9 @@ def do_ini(
                         break
         # remove all remaining option occurrences from the rest of the section
         for index in range(len(section_lines) - 1, 0, -1):
-            if not changed_lines[index] and match_function(option, section_lines[index]):
+            match = not changed_lines[index] and match_function(option, section_lines[index])
+            # skip comment-only lines (no "=") — only remove active or commented config lines
+            if match and not (match.group(2) and not match.group(6)):
                 del section_lines[index]
                 del changed_lines[index]
                 changed = True
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py
index 821b13a4b0..1f97170ee6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/modules/test_ini_file.py
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+
+import pytest
+
 from ansible_collections.community.general.plugins.modules import ini_file
 
 
@@ -47,3 +52,106 @@ def test_no_ignore_spaces_changed():
 def test_no_ignore_spaces_unchanged():
     newline = "foobar=baz"
     do_test("foobar", False, newline, newline, newline, False, None)
+
+
+class FakeModule:
+    """Minimal AnsibleModule stub for do_ini unit tests."""
+
+    _diff = False
+    check_mode = False
+    tmpdir = tempfile.gettempdir()
+
+    def fail_json(self, **kw):
+        raise AssertionError(kw)
+
+    def backup_local(self, f):
+        return f + ".bak"
+
+    def atomic_move(self, src, dst):
+        shutil.move(src, dst)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def ini_file_path(tmp_path):
+    """Return a factory that writes content to a temp ini file and yields the path."""
+
+    def _make(content):
+        p = tmp_path / "test.ini"
+        p.write_text(content)
+        return str(p)
+
+    return _make
+
+
+def test_ini_file_doc_comment_lines_not_deleted_gh11919(ini_file_path):
+    """Regression test for https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/issues/11919.
+
+    Pure doc comment lines containing the option name (e.g. '; output_buffering')
+    must not be deleted when state=present and exclusive=True.
+    Only the actual commented config line (';output_buffering = 4096') should be
+    replaced by the active config line.
+    """
+    content = (
+        "[PHP]\n"
+        ";   Integer = Enables the buffer and sets its maximum size in bytes.\n"
+        "; Note: This directive is hardcoded to Off for the CLI SAPI\n"
+        "; Default Value: Off\n"
+        "; output_buffering\n"
+        "; Development Value: 4096\n"
+        "; Production Value: 4096\n"
+        "; https://php.net/output-buffering\n"
+        ";output_buffering = 4096\n"
+    )
+    path = ini_file_path(content)
+
+    ini_file.do_ini(
+        module=FakeModule(),
+        filename=path,
+        section="PHP",
+        option="output_buffering",
+        values=["123"],
+        state="present",
+        exclusive=True,
+        backup=False,
+        no_extra_spaces=False,
+        ignore_spaces=False,
+        create=True,
+        allow_no_value=False,
+        modify_inactive_option=True,
+    )
+
+    result = open(path).read()
+
+    assert "; output_buffering\n" in result, "Doc comment '; output_buffering' must not be deleted"
+    assert "output_buffering = 123\n" in result, "Active config 'output_buffering = 123' must be present"
+    assert ";output_buffering = 4096\n" not in result, (
+        "Old commented config ';output_buffering = 4096' must be replaced"
+    )
+
+
+def test_ini_file_commented_config_replaced_not_duplicated_gh11919(ini_file_path):
+    """Companion to gh11919: the commented config line must be replaced in-place,
+    not left behind alongside the new active line."""
+    content = "[PHP]\n;output_buffering = 4096\n"
+    path = ini_file_path(content)
+
+    ini_file.do_ini(
+        module=FakeModule(),
+        filename=path,
+        section="PHP",
+        option="output_buffering",
+        values=["123"],
+        state="present",
+        exclusive=True,
+        backup=False,
+        no_extra_spaces=False,
+        ignore_spaces=False,
+        create=True,
+        allow_no_value=False,
+        modify_inactive_option=True,
+    )
+
+    result = open(path).read()
+
+    assert "output_buffering = 123\n" in result
+    assert ";output_buffering = 4096\n" not in result