diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ops_template.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ops_template.py
index 84924fdb74..4b45c03f5c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ops_template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/ops_template.py
@@ -35,15 +35,15 @@ class ActionModule(NetActionModule, ActionBase):
         if isinstance(self._task.args['src'], basestring):
             self._handle_template()
 
-        self._task.args['config'] = task_vars.get('config')
-
         result.update(self._execute_module(module_name=self._task.action,
             module_args=self._task.args, task_vars=task_vars))
 
-        if self._task.args.get('backup') and '_config' in result:
-            contents = json.dumps(result['_config'], indent=4)
+        if self._task.args.get('backup') and result.get('_backup'):
+            contents = json.dumps(result['_backup'], indent=4)
             self._write_backup(task_vars['inventory_hostname'], contents)
-            del result['_config']
+
+        if '_backup' in result:
+            del result['_backup']
 
         return result