diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/process/result.py b/lib/ansible/executor/process/result.py
index 1e53d9191ba..cdd32de4983 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/process/result.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/process/result.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class ResultProcess(multiprocessing.Process):
                             # if this task is registering facts, do that now
                             loop_var = 'item'
                             if result._task.loop_control:
-                                loop_var = result._task.loop_control.get('loop_var') or 'item'
+                                loop_var = result._task.loop_control.loop_var or 'item'
                             item = result_item.get(loop_var, None)
                             if result._task.action == 'include_vars':
                                 for (key, value) in iteritems(result_item['ansible_facts']):
diff --git a/test/integration/test_includes.yml b/test/integration/test_includes.yml
index 5c191b427cc..d7303880f16 100644
--- a/test/integration/test_includes.yml
+++ b/test/integration/test_includes.yml
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
 - include: test_includes2.yml parameter1=asdf parameter2=jkl
+
+- include: test_includes3.yml
diff --git a/test/integration/test_includes3.yml b/test/integration/test_includes3.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..012ee205688
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test_includes3.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+- hosts: localhost
+  tasks:
+    - include: test_includes4.yml
+      with_items: ["a"]
+      loop_control:
+        loop_var: r
diff --git a/test/integration/test_includes4.yml b/test/integration/test_includes4.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bee906bdfb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test_includes4.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- set_fact:
+    p: 1