diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
index f015c28db8d..27b0afd5db3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/play_iterator.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class PlayIterator:
     FAILED_RESCUE      = 4
     FAILED_ALWAYS      = 8
 
-    def __init__(self, inventory, play, play_context, variable_manager, all_vars):
+    def __init__(self, inventory, play, play_context, variable_manager, all_vars, start_at_done=False):
         self._play = play
 
         self._blocks = []
@@ -127,12 +127,16 @@ class PlayIterator:
                  host._gathered_facts = True
              # if we're looking to start at a specific task, iterate through
              # the tasks for this host until we find the specified task
-             if play_context.start_at_task is not None:
+             if play_context.start_at_task is not None and not start_at_done:
                  while True:
                      (s, task) = self.get_next_task_for_host(host, peek=True)
                      if s.run_state == self.ITERATING_COMPLETE:
                          break
                      if task.name == play_context.start_at_task or fnmatch.fnmatch(task.name, play_context.start_at_task):
+                         # we have our match, so clear the start_at_task field on the
+                         # play context to flag that we've started at a task (and future
+                         # plays won't try to advance)
+                         play_context.start_at_task = None
                          break
                      else:
                          self.get_next_task_for_host(host)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
index 0b6422218c3..087c2eb972f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_queue_manager.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class TaskQueueManager:
 
         self._callbacks_loaded = False
         self._callback_plugins = []
+        self._start_at_done    = False
 
         # make sure the module path (if specified) is parsed and
         # added to the module_loader object
@@ -203,8 +204,15 @@ class TaskQueueManager:
             play_context=play_context,
             variable_manager=self._variable_manager,
             all_vars=all_vars,
+            start_at_done = self._start_at_done,
         )
 
+        # during initialization, the PlayContext will clear the start_at_task
+        # field to signal that a matching task was found, so check that here
+        # and remember it so we don't try to skip tasks on future plays
+        if self._options.start_at_task is not None and play_context.start_at_task is None:
+            self._start_at_done = True
+
         # and run the play using the strategy
         return strategy.run(iterator, play_context)