diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/hostname-use-detection.yml b/changelogs/fragments/hostname-use-detection.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..29b213d5384
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/hostname-use-detection.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - hostname - Fixed use=generic and use=debian and automatic detection for minimal Debian install without dbus (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/85069).
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/hostname.py b/lib/ansible/modules/hostname.py
index 0f30ddf0f16..3efb57f023f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/hostname.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/hostname.py
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ from ansible.module_utils.common.text.converters import to_native, to_text
 
 STRATS = {
     'alpine': 'Alpine',
-    'debian': 'Systemd',
+    'debian': 'File',
     'freebsd': 'FreeBSD',
-    'generic': 'Base',
+    'generic': 'File',
     'macos': 'Darwin',
     'macosx': 'Darwin',
     'darwin': 'Darwin',
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class BaseStrategy(object):
     def update_current_hostname(self):
         name = self.module.params['name']
         current_name = self.get_current_hostname()
-        if current_name != name:
+        if current_name is not None and current_name != name:
             if not self.module.check_mode:
                 self.set_current_hostname(name)
             self.changed = True
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class BaseStrategy(object):
                 self.set_permanent_hostname(name)
             self.changed = True
 
-    def get_current_hostname(self):
+    def get_current_hostname(self) -> None | str:
         return self.get_permanent_hostname()
 
     def set_current_hostname(self, name):
@@ -171,9 +171,9 @@ class UnimplementedStrategy(BaseStrategy):
 class CommandStrategy(BaseStrategy):
     COMMAND = 'hostname'
 
-    def __init__(self, module):
+    def __init__(self, module: AnsibleModule, cmd_required: bool = True):
         super(CommandStrategy, self).__init__(module)
-        self.hostname_cmd = self.module.get_bin_path(self.COMMAND, True)
+        self.hostname_cmd = self.module.get_bin_path(self.COMMAND, cmd_required)
 
     def get_current_hostname(self):
         cmd = [self.hostname_cmd]
@@ -195,9 +195,32 @@ class CommandStrategy(BaseStrategy):
         pass
 
 
-class FileStrategy(BaseStrategy):
+def requires_hostname_cmd(strategy_method):
+    def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if self.hostname_cmd is None:
+            self.module.warn(
+                f"The command '{self.COMMAND}' is not in the PATH, "
+                f"falling back to use the file {self.FILE} exclusively."
+            )
+            return
+        return strategy_method(self, *args, **kwargs)
+    return wrapper
+
+
+class FileStrategy(CommandStrategy):
     FILE = '/etc/hostname'
 
+    def __init__(self, module: AnsibleModule, cmd_required: bool = False):
+        super().__init__(module, cmd_required=cmd_required)
+
+    @requires_hostname_cmd
+    def set_current_hostname(self, name):
+        return super().set_current_hostname(name)
+
+    @requires_hostname_cmd
+    def get_current_hostname(self):
+        return super().get_current_hostname()
+
     def get_permanent_hostname(self):
         if not os.path.isfile(self.FILE):
             return ''
@@ -296,6 +319,11 @@ class SystemdStrategy(BaseStrategy):
         super(SystemdStrategy, self).__init__(module)
         self.hostnamectl_cmd = self.module.get_bin_path(self.COMMAND, True)
 
+    @property
+    def has_hostnamectl(self):
+        rc, out, err = self.module.run_command(self.hostnamectl_cmd)
+        return bool(rc == 0)
+
     def get_current_hostname(self):
         cmd = [self.hostnamectl_cmd, '--transient', 'status']
         rc, out, err = self.module.run_command(cmd)
@@ -612,7 +640,10 @@ class Hostname(object):
             self.strategy = strategy(module)
         elif platform.system() == 'Linux' and ServiceMgrFactCollector.is_systemd_managed(module):
             # This is Linux and systemd is active
-            self.strategy = SystemdStrategy(module)
+            if (strategy := SystemdStrategy(module)) and strategy.has_hostnamectl:
+                self.strategy = strategy
+            else:
+                self.strategy = self.strategy_class(module)
         else:
             self.strategy = self.strategy_class(module)
 
@@ -867,7 +898,7 @@ def main():
 
     changed = hostname.update_current_and_permanent_hostname()
 
-    if name != current_hostname:
+    if current_hostname is not None and name != current_hostname:
         name_before = current_hostname
     else:
         name_before = permanent_hostname
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Alpine.yml b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Alpine.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2f8afebbdb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Alpine.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+---
+- name: Test AlpineStrategy by setting hostname
+  become: 'yes'
+  hostname:
+    use: alpine
+    name: "{{ ansible_distribution_release }}-bebop.ansible.example.com"
+
+- name: Test AlpineStrategy by getting current hostname
+  command: hostname
+  register: get_hostname
+
+- name: Test AlpineStrategy by verifying /etc/hostname content
+  command: grep -v '^#' /etc/hostname
+  register: grep_hostname
+
+- name: Test AlpineStrategy using assertions
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bebop.ansible.example.com' in get_hostname.stdout"
+      - "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bebop.ansible.example.com' in grep_hostname.stdout"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Debian.yml b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Debian.yml
index a39280e21b6..7162366fb49 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Debian.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/Debian.yml
@@ -18,3 +18,50 @@
     that:
       - "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bebop.ansible.example.com' in get_hostname.stdout"
       - "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bebop.ansible.example.com' in grep_hostname.stdout"
+
+- name: Test DebianStrategy without hostname
+  block:
+    - name: Get hostname command
+      shell: which hostname
+      register: hostname
+      ignore_errors: True
+
+    - name: Move hostname command
+      shell: "mv {{ hostname.stdout }} {{ hostname.stdout }}.bak"
+      when: hostname.stdout != ""
+      become: True
+      register: moved_hostname
+
+    - name: Test no change is made without hostname in the PATH
+      hostname:
+        name: "{{ ansible_distribution_release }}-bebop.ansible.example.com"
+        use: debian
+      register: debian_no_change
+
+    - assert:
+        that: debian_no_change is not changed
+
+    - name: Test updating /etc/hostname
+      hostname:
+        name: "{{ ansible_distribution_release }}-bop.ansible.example.com"
+        use: debian
+      register: debian_changed
+
+    - name: Verify /etc/hostname content
+      command: grep -v '^#' /etc/hostname
+      register: grep_hostname
+
+    - name: Assert /etc/hostname has been modified
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - debian_changed is changed
+          - "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bop.ansible.example.com' in grep_hostname.stdout"
+  always:
+    - command: "mv {{ hostname.stdout }}.bak {{ hostname.stdout }}"
+      when: moved_hostname is defined and moved_hostname is changed
+      become: True
+
+    - name: Verify the current hostname is unchanged
+      command: hostname
+      register: current_hostname
+      failed_when: "ansible_distribution_release ~ '-bop.ansible.example.com' in current_hostname.stdout"
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/test_normal.yml b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/test_normal.yml
index 42e49b55d96..c8e81a39139 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/test_normal.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/hostname/tasks/test_normal.yml
@@ -24,3 +24,13 @@
       - hn3 is not changed
       - current_after_hn2.stdout == 'crocodile.ansible.test.doesthiswork.net.example.com'
       - current_after_hn2.stdout == current_after_hn2.stdout
+
+- name: Test use=generic
+  become: True
+  hostname:
+    name: crocodile.ansible.test.doesthiswork.net.example.com
+    use: generic
+  register: hn4
+
+- assert:
+    that: hn4 is not changed