diff --git a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
index b9f6619d83..1a971f8900 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ class AnsibleError(Exception):
     '''
 
     def __init__(self, message="", obj=None, show_content=True, suppress_extended_error=False, orig_exc=None):
+        super(AnsibleError, self).__init__(message)
+
         # we import this here to prevent an import loop problem,
         # since the objects code also imports ansible.errors
         from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleBaseYAMLObject
diff --git a/test/units/parsing/test_mod_args.py b/test/units/parsing/test_mod_args.py
index a4cd4e77b6..04aa0d02b5 100644
--- a/test/units/parsing/test_mod_args.py
+++ b/test/units/parsing/test_mod_args.py
@@ -125,4 +125,3 @@ class TestModArgsDwim:
         assert err.value.args[0].startswith("conflicting action statements: ")
         conflicts = set(err.value.args[0][len("conflicting action statements: "):].split(', '))
         assert conflicts == set(('ping', 'shell'))
-