diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index ca4f8925eb..5921eb56ea 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -382,10 +382,18 @@ class Runner(object):
                 inject['item'] = ",".join(items)
                 items = None
 
-        # logic to decide how to run things depends on whether with_items is used
+        # logic to replace complex args if possible
+        complex_args = self.complex_args
+        if isinstance(complex_args, basestring):
+            if complex_args in inject:
+                complex_args = inject[complex_args]
+            else:
+                complex_args = template.template(self.basedir, complex_args, inject)
+                complex_args = utils.safe_eval(complex_args)
 
+        # logic to decide how to run things depends on whether with_items is used
         if items is None:
-            return self._executor_internal_inner(host, self.module_name, self.module_args, inject, port, complex_args=self.complex_args)
+            return self._executor_internal_inner(host, self.module_name, self.module_args, inject, port, complex_args=complex_args)
         elif len(items) > 0:
 
             # executing using with_items, so make multiple calls
@@ -404,7 +412,7 @@ class Runner(object):
                      self.module_args, 
                      inject, 
                      port, 
-                     complex_args=self.complex_args
+                     complex_args=complex_args
                 )
                 results.append(result.result)
                 if result.comm_ok == False:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
index 138411cf5b..325c3e7fcb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
@@ -703,6 +703,9 @@ def safe_eval(str):
         return var.startswith("$") or '{{' in var
 
     # do not allow method calls to modules
+    if not isinstance(str, basestring):
+        # already templated to a datastructure, perhaps?
+        return str
     if re.search(r'\w\.\w+\(', str):
         return str
     # do not allow imports