diff --git a/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/executor.py b/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/executor.py
index 23579ceebe8..dff37a445f5 100644
--- a/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/executor.py
+++ b/test/lib/ansible_test/_internal/executor.py
@@ -1329,8 +1329,10 @@ def command_integration_role(args, target, start_at_task, test_dir, inventory_pa
         )
 
         if env_config:
+            if env_config.ansible_vars:
+                variables.update(env_config.ansible_vars)
+
             play.update(dict(
-                vars=env_config.ansible_vars,
                 environment=env_config.env_vars,
                 module_defaults=env_config.module_defaults,
             ))