diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
index 36976655e2c..ba1d0826cc4 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def load_list_of_blocks(ds, play, parent_block=None, role=None, task_include=Non
             # squash them down to a single block to save processing time later.
             if b._implicit and len(block_list) > 0 and block_list[-1]._implicit:
                 for t in b.block:
-                    t._block = block_list[-1]
+                    t._parent = block_list[-1]
                 block_list[-1].block.extend(b.block)
             else:
                 block_list.append(b)