diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
index 087c2eb972..ae41afb600 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class TaskQueueManager:
         # during initialization, the PlayContext will clear the start_at_task
         # field to signal that a matching task was found, so check that here
         # and remember it so we don't try to skip tasks on future plays
-        if self._options.start_at_task is not None and play_context.start_at_task is None:
+        if getattr(self._options, 'start_at_task', None) is not None and play_context.start_at_task is None:
             self._start_at_done = True
 
         # and run the play using the strategy