diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 2d1f8856c0..bb73d09b0d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class Play(object):
         self.remote_user  = utils.template(basedir, ds.get('user', self.playbook.remote_user), playbook.extra_vars)
         self.remote_port  = ds.get('port', self.playbook.remote_port)
         self.sudo         = ds.get('sudo', self.playbook.sudo)
-        self.sudo_user    = ds.get('sudo_user', self.playbook.sudo_user)
+        self.sudo_user    = utils.template(basedir, ds.get('sudo_user', self.playbook.sudo_user), playbook.extra_vars)
         self.transport    = ds.get('connection', self.playbook.transport)
         self.tags         = ds.get('tags', None)
         self.gather_facts = ds.get('gather_facts', True)