diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
index e3e502341b5..44f12eecef3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ def load_list_of_tasks(ds, play, block=None, role=None, task_include=None, use_h
                     try:
                         data = loader.load_from_file(include_file)
                         if data is None:
-                            return []
+                            display.warning('file %s is empty and had no tasks to include' % include_file)
+                            continue
                         elif not isinstance(data, list):
                             raise AnsibleParserError("included task files must contain a list of tasks", obj=data)