diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
index b7f333cead6..ad56800764b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
@@ -63,21 +63,13 @@ options:
   force:
     description:
       - the default is C(yes), which will replace the remote file when contents
-        are different than the source.  If C(no), the file will only be transferred
+        are different than the source. If C(no), the file will only be transferred
         if the destination does not exist.
     version_added: "1.1"
     required: false
     choices: [ "yes", "no" ]
     default: "yes"
     aliases: [ "thirsty" ]
-  validate:
-    description:
-      - The validation command to run before copying into place.  The path to the file to
-        validate is passed in via '%s' which must be present as in the visudo example below.
-        The command is passed securely so shell features like expansion and pipes won't work.
-    required: false
-    default: ""
-    version_added: "1.2"
   directory_mode:
     description:
       - When doing a recursive copy set the mode for the directories. If this is not set we will use the system
@@ -86,6 +78,7 @@ options:
     required: false
     version_added: "1.5"
 extends_documentation_fragment: files
+extends_documentation_fragment: validate
 author: 
     - "Ansible Core Team"
     - "Michael DeHaan"
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
index 6bcfb3b3060..777f0a498a9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ author:
     - "Daniel Hokka Zakrissoni (@dhozac)"
     - "Ahti Kitsik (@ahtik)"
 extends_documentation_fragment: files
+extends_documentation_fragment: validate
 short_description: Ensure a particular line is in a file, or replace an
                    existing line using a back-referenced regular expression.
 description:
@@ -116,16 +117,6 @@ options:
      description:
        - Create a backup file including the timestamp information so you can
          get the original file back if you somehow clobbered it incorrectly.
-  validate:
-     required: false
-     description:
-       - validation to run before copying into place. 
-         Use %s in the command to indicate the current file to validate.
-         The command is passed securely so shell features like
-         expansion and pipes won't work.
-     required: false
-     default: None
-     version_added: "1.4"
   others:
      description:
        - All arguments accepted by the M(file) module also work here.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/replace.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/replace.py
index fa0142823ea..dea2c32a54f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/replace.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/replace.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ DOCUMENTATION = """
 module: replace
 author: "Evan Kaufman (@EvanK)"
 extends_documentation_fragment: files
+extends_documentation_fragment: validate
 short_description: Replace all instances of a particular string in a
                    file using a back-referenced regular expression.
 description:
@@ -61,12 +62,6 @@ options:
     description:
       - Create a backup file including the timestamp information so you can
         get the original file back if you somehow clobbered it incorrectly.
-  validate:
-    required: false
-    description:
-      - validation to run before copying into place
-    required: false
-    default: None
   others:
     description:
       - All arguments accepted by the M(file) module also work here.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/template.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/template.py
index a1dc72c27bd..120917f49c2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/template.py
@@ -38,15 +38,6 @@ options:
     required: false
     choices: [ "yes", "no" ]
     default: "no"
-  validate:
-    description:
-      - The validation command to run before copying into place. 
-      - The path to the file to validate is passed in via '%s' which must be present as in the visudo example below.
-      - validation to run before copying into place. The command is passed 
-        securely so shell features like expansion and pipes won't work.
-    required: false
-    default: ""
-    version_added: "1.2"
   force:
     description:
       - the default is C(yes), which will replace the remote file when contents
@@ -62,6 +53,7 @@ author:
     - Ansible Core Team 
     - Michael DeHaan
 extends_documentation_fragment: files
+extends_documentation_fragment: validate
 '''
 
 EXAMPLES = '''