diff --git a/plugins/plugin_utils/keep_keys.py b/plugins/plugin_utils/keep_keys.py
index de77ade5..3e827943 100644
--- a/plugins/plugin_utils/keep_keys.py
+++ b/plugins/plugin_utils/keep_keys.py
@@ -29,41 +29,40 @@ def _raise_error(msg):
 
 
 def keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(data, target, matching_parameter):
+    match = False
     if isinstance(data, list):
         list_data = [keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(each, target, matching_parameter) for each in data]
-        return list_data
+        return [d[0] for d in list_data], any([d[1] for d in list_data])
     if isinstance(data, dict):
         keep = {}
         for k, val in data.items():
-            match = False
             for key in target:
-                if k == key:
-                    keep[k], match = val, True
-                elif not isinstance(val, (list, dict)):
-                    if matching_parameter == "regex":
-                        if re.match(key, k):
-                            keep[k], match = val, True
-                    elif matching_parameter == "starts_with":
-                        if k.startswith(key):
-                            keep[k], match = val, True
-                    elif matching_parameter == "ends_with":
-                        if k.endswith(key):
-                            keep[k], match = val, True
-                    else:
-                        if k == key:
-                            keep[k], match = val, True
+                # We start by looking for partial nested keys match if its a list or a dict
+                if isinstance(val, (list, dict)):
+                    nested_keep, has_some_match = keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(
+                        val,
+                        target,
+                        matching_parameter,
+                    )
+                    if has_some_match:
+                        keep[k] = nested_keep
+                        match = has_some_match
+                # We then check current key against comparator, as we want to keep it fully
+                # If current key is valid
+                if matching_parameter == "regex":
+                    if re.match(key, k):
+                        keep[k], match = val, True
+                elif matching_parameter == "starts_with":
+                    if k.startswith(key):
+                        keep[k], match = val, True
+                elif matching_parameter == "ends_with":
+                    if k.endswith(key):
+                        keep[k], match = val, True
                 else:
-                    list_data = keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(val, target, matching_parameter)
-                    if isinstance(list_data, list):
-                        list_data = [r for r in list_data if r not in ([], {})]
-                    if list_data not in ([], {}):
-                        keep[k], match = list_data, True
-            if not match and isinstance(val, (list, dict)):
-                nested_keep = keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(val, target, matching_parameter)
-                if nested_keep not in ([], {}):
-                    keep[k] = nested_keep
-        return keep
-    return data
+                    if k == key:
+                        keep[k], match = val, True
+        return keep, match
+    return data, match
 
 
 def keep_keys(data, target, matching_parameter="equality"):
@@ -79,4 +78,4 @@ def keep_keys(data, target, matching_parameter="equality"):
     if not isinstance(data, (list, dict)):
         _raise_error("Input is not valid for keep operation")
     data = keep_keys_from_dict_n_list(data, target, matching_parameter)
-    return data
+    return data[0]
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/utils_keep_keys/tasks/simple.yaml b/tests/integration/targets/utils_keep_keys/tasks/simple.yaml
index 6ef0506e..f0073481 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/utils_keep_keys/tasks/simple.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/utils_keep_keys/tasks/simple.yaml
@@ -89,12 +89,12 @@
             tomcat3:
               name: tomcattest
             checktomcat3: stringinput
-      tomcats_block:
-        - tomcat1
-        - tomcat2
+        tomcats_block:
+          - tomcat1
+          - tomcat2
 - name: Debug
   ansible.builtin.debug:
-    msg: "{{ tomcat_data | ansible.utils.keep_keys(target=['tomcats_block']) }}"
+    msg: "{{ tomcat_data['tomcat'] | ansible.utils.keep_keys(target=['tomcats_block']) }}"
   register: result
 
 - name: Assert result dicts