diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 6fd1c54b97..16eafc93da 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -286,7 +286,11 @@ class Play(object):
             if not os.path.isfile(task) and not os.path.isfile(handler) and not os.path.isfile(vars_file) and not os.path.isdir(library):
                 raise errors.AnsibleError("found role at %s, but cannot find %s or %s or %s or %s" % (role_path, task, handler, vars_file, library))
             if os.path.isfile(task):
-                nt = dict(include=pipes.quote(task), vars=role_vars, default_vars=default_vars, role_name=role['role'])
+                if isinstance(role, dict):
+                    role_name = role['role']
+                else:
+                    role_name = role
+                nt = dict(include=pipes.quote(task), vars=role_vars, default_vars=default_vars, role_name=role_name)
                 for k in special_keys:
                     if k in special_vars:
                         nt[k] = special_vars[k]