diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index 74c6998b22..babc059e65 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -583,29 +583,6 @@ class Play(object):
                     included_become_vars[k] = become_vars[k]
                     x[k] = become_vars[k]
 
-            ## backwards compat with old sudo/su directives
-            if 'sudo' in x or 'sudo_user' in x:
-                included_become_vars['become'] = x['sudo']
-                x['become'] = x['sudo']
-                x['become_method'] = 'sudo'
-                del x['sudo']
-
-                if x.get('sudo_user', False):
-                    included_become_vars['become_user'] = x['sudo_user']
-                    x['become_user'] = x['sudo_user']
-                    del x['sudo_user']
-
-            elif 'su' in x or 'su_user' in x:
-                included_become_vars['become'] = x['su']
-                x['become'] = x['su']
-                x['become_method'] = 'su'
-                del x['su']
-
-                if x.get('su_user', False):
-                    included_become_vars['become_user'] = x['su_user']
-                    x['become_user'] = x['su_user']
-                    del x['su_user']
-
             if 'meta' in x:
                 if x['meta'] == 'flush_handlers':
                     results.append(Task(self, x))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index a43c2ab89d..77cb97e5c0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -173,19 +173,34 @@ class Task(object):
 
         # set only if passed in current task data
         if 'sudo' in ds or 'sudo_user' in ds:
-            self.become=ds['sudo']
             self.become_method='sudo'
+
+            if 'sudo' in ds:
+                self.become=ds['sudo']
+                del ds['sudo']
+            else:
+                self.become=True
             if 'sudo_user' in ds:
                 self.become_user = ds['sudo_user']
+                del ds['sudo_user']
             if 'sudo_pass' in ds:
                 self.become_pass = ds['sudo_pass']
-        if 'su' in ds or 'su_user' in ds:
-            self.become=ds['su']
+                del ds['sudo_pass']
+
+        elif 'su' in ds or 'su_user' in ds:
             self.become_method='su'
+
+            if 'su' in ds:
+                self.become=ds['su']
+            else:
+                self.become=True
+                del ds['su']
             if 'su_user' in ds:
                 self.become_user = ds['su_user']
+                del ds['su_user']
             if 'su_pass' in ds:
                 self.become_pass = ds['su_pass']
+                del ds['su_pass']
 
         # Both are defined
         if ('action' in ds) and ('local_action' in ds):