diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
index d8fad5c353a..3e7a90f61fe 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/user.py
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ class User(object):
             os.chown(path, uid, gid)
             for root, dirs, files in os.walk(path):
                 for d in dirs:
-                    os.chown(path, uid, gid)
+                    os.chown(os.path.join(root, d), uid, gid)
                 for f in files:
                     os.chown(os.path.join(root, f), uid, gid)
         except OSError: