diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
index 9e97f53c53f..1eab61eb4d3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ class PlaybookCLI(CLI):
         # ansible playbook specific opts
         parser.add_option('--list-tasks', dest='listtasks', action='store_true',
             help="list all tasks that would be executed")
-        parser.add_option('--step', dest='step', action='store_true',
-            help="one-step-at-a-time: confirm each task before running")
-        parser.add_option('--start-at-task', dest='start_at',
-            help="start the playbook at the task matching this name")
         parser.add_option('--list-tags', dest='listtags', action='store_true',
             help="list all available tags")
+        parser.add_option('--step', dest='step', action='store_true',
+            help="one-step-at-a-time: confirm each task before running")
+        parser.add_option('--start-at-task', dest='start_at_task',
+            help="start the playbook at the task matching this name")
 
         self.options, self.args = parser.parse_args()
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/connection_info.py b/lib/ansible/executor/connection_info.py
index 46ce129e45b..a760cc9aabb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/connection_info.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/connection_info.py
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ class ConnectionInformation:
         self.no_log         = False
         self.check_mode     = False
         self.force_handlers = False
+        self.start_at_task  = None
+        self.step           = False
 
         #TODO: just pull options setup to above?
         # set options before play to allow play to override them
@@ -241,6 +243,10 @@ class ConnectionInformation:
             self.check_mode = boolean(options.check)
         if hasattr(options, 'force_handlers') and options.force_handlers:
             self.force_handlers = boolean(options.force_handlers)
+        if hasattr(options, 'step') and options.step:
+            self.step = boolean(options.step)
+        if hasattr(options, 'start_at_task') and options.start_at_task:
+            self.start_at_task = options.start_at_task
 
         # get the tag info from options, converting a comma-separated list
         # of values into a proper list if need be. We check to see if the
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
index 8794e7e4034..2ca3815e419 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
@@ -99,6 +99,17 @@ class PlayIterator:
         self._host_states = {}
         for host in inventory.get_hosts(self._play.hosts):
              self._host_states[host.name] = HostState(blocks=self._blocks)
+             # if we're looking to start at a specific task, iterate through
+             # the tasks for this host until we find the specified task
+             if connection_info.start_at_task is not None:
+                 while True:
+                     (s, task) = self.get_next_task_for_host(host, peek=True)
+                     if s.run_state == self.ITERATING_COMPLETE:
+                         break
+                     if task.get_name() != connection_info.start_at_task:
+                         self.get_next_task_for_host(host)
+                     else:
+                         break
 
         # Extend the play handlers list to include the handlers defined in roles
         self._play.handlers.extend(play.compile_roles_handlers())