diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner.py b/lib/ansible/runner.py
index 2f45547c635..5c52c17f13a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner.py
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@ class Runner(object):
         self.basedir     = basedir
         self.sudo        = sudo
         self.sudo_pass   = sudo_pass
-        self.sudo_user   = sudo_user
         self.is_playbook = is_playbook
 
         euid = pwd.getpwuid(os.geteuid())[0]