diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 8bf8d6f7c1..a0d7688e1f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -392,9 +392,16 @@ class Runner(object):
 
         if items_plugin is not None and items_plugin in utils.plugins.lookup_loader:
 
+            basedir = self.basedir
+            if '_original_file' in inject:
+                basedir = os.path.dirname(inject['_original_file'])
+                filesdir = os.path.join(basedir, '..', 'files')
+                if os.path.exists(filesdir):
+                    basedir = filesdir
+
             items_terms = self.module_vars.get('items_lookup_terms', '')
-            items_terms = template.template(self.basedir, items_terms, inject)
-            items = utils.plugins.lookup_loader.get(items_plugin, runner=self, basedir=self.basedir).run(items_terms, inject=inject)
+            items_terms = template.template(basedir, items_terms, inject)
+            items = utils.plugins.lookup_loader.get(items_plugin, runner=self, basedir=basedir).run(items_terms, inject=inject)
             if type(items) != list:
                 raise errors.AnsibleError("lookup plugins have to return a list: %r" % items)