diff --git a/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
index 63c7a237aa..a6bbdff8bc 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/vars/__init__.py
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ class VariableManager:
             if task._role:
                 variables['role_name'] = task._role.get_name()
                 variables['role_path'] = task._role._role_path
-                variables['role_uuid'] = task._role._uuid
+                variables['role_uuid'] = unicode(task._role._uuid)
 
         if self._inventory is not None:
             variables['inventory_dir'] = self._inventory.basedir()