diff --git a/bin/ansible-playbook b/bin/ansible-playbook
index ea99342f393..f728a278d42 100755
--- a/bin/ansible-playbook
+++ b/bin/ansible-playbook
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def main(args):
         if options.sudo_user or options.ask_sudo_pass:
             options.sudo = True
         options.sudo_user = options.sudo_user or C.DEFAULT_SUDO_USER
-    if options.extra_vars[0] in '[{':
+    if options.extra_vars and options.extra_vars[0] in '[{':
         extra_vars = utils.json_loads(options.extra_vars)
     else:
         extra_vars = utils.parse_kv(options.extra_vars)