diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
index b731dfcd82e..fea867382e0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ class Host(object):
     def get_variables(self):
 
         results = {}
-        for group in self.groups:
+        groups = self.get_groups()
+        for group in sorted(groups, key=lambda g: g.depth):
             results.update(group.get_variables())
         results.update(self.vars)
         results['inventory_hostname'] = self.name
         results['inventory_hostname_short'] = self.name.split('.')[0]
-        groups = self.get_groups()
         results['group_names'] = sorted([ g.name for g in groups if g.name != 'all'])
         return results