diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
index e95e16b518a..d54ebafb245 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
@@ -312,12 +312,7 @@ class Base(with_metaclass(BaseMeta, object)):
         '''
         if not self._squashed:
             for name in self._valid_attrs.keys():
-                getter = partial(_generic_g, name)
-                setter = partial(_generic_s, name)
-                deleter = partial(_generic_d, name)
-
                 self._attributes[name] = getattr(self, name)
-                #print("squashed attr %s: %s" % (name, self._attributes[name]))
             self._squashed = True
 
     def copy(self):
@@ -516,7 +511,9 @@ class Base(with_metaclass(BaseMeta, object)):
             repr[name] = getattr(self, name)
 
         # serialize the uuid field
-        repr['uuid'] = getattr(self, '_uuid')
+        repr['uuid'] = self._uuid
+        repr['finalized'] = self._finalized
+        repr['squashed'] = self._squashed
 
         return repr
 
@@ -538,4 +535,6 @@ class Base(with_metaclass(BaseMeta, object)):
 
         # restore the UUID field
         setattr(self, '_uuid', data.get('uuid'))
+        self._finalized = data.get('finalized', False)
+        self._squashed = data.get('squashed', False)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index e99f84c108c..f5bd653314c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -342,12 +342,13 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, Become):
     def serialize(self):
         data = super(Task, self).serialize()
 
-        if self._parent:
-            data['parent'] = self._parent.serialize()
-            data['parent_type'] = self._parent.__class__.__name__
+        if not self._squashed and not self._finalized:
+            if self._parent:
+                data['parent'] = self._parent.serialize()
+                data['parent_type'] = self._parent.__class__.__name__
 
-        if self._role:
-            data['role'] = self._role.serialize()
+            if self._role:
+                data['role'] = self._role.serialize()
 
         return data