diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 5eb3f5e46ec..831bd2cdc56 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from ansible import errors
 from ansible import module_common
 import poller
 import connection
+from return_data import ReturnData
 from ansible.callbacks import DefaultRunnerCallbacks, vv
 
 HAS_ATFORK=True
@@ -63,48 +64,6 @@ def _executor_hook(job_queue, result_queue):
         except:
             traceback.print_exc()
 
-################################################
-
-class ReturnData(object):
-    ''' internal return class for execute methods, not part of API signature '''
-
-    __slots__ = [ 'result', 'comm_ok', 'host' ]
-
-    def __init__(self, conn=None, host=None, result=None, comm_ok=True):
-
-        # which host is this ReturnData about?
-        if conn is not None:
-            delegate_for = getattr(conn, '_delegate_for', None)
-            if delegate_for:
-                self.host = delegate_for
-            else:
-                self.host = conn.host
-        else:
-            self.host = host
-
-        self.result = result
-        self.comm_ok = comm_ok
-
-        if type(self.result) in [ str, unicode ]:
-            self.result = utils.parse_json(self.result)
-
-        if self.host is None:
-            raise Exception("host not set")
-        if type(self.result) != dict:
-            raise Exception("dictionary result expected")
-
-    def communicated_ok(self):
-        return self.comm_ok
-
-    def is_successful(self):
-        return self.comm_ok and ('failed' not in self.result) and (self.result.get('rc',0) == 0)
-
-    def daisychain(self, module_name):
-        ''' request a module call follow this one '''
-        if self.is_successful():
-            self.result['daisychain'] = module_name
-        return self
-
 class Runner(object):
     ''' core API interface to ansible '''
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/return_data.py b/lib/ansible/runner/return_data.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0dcdb4aeb8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/return_data.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# (c) 2012, Michael DeHaan <michael.dehaan@gmail.com>
+#
+# This file is part of Ansible
+#
+# Ansible is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# Ansible is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from ansible import utils
+
+class ReturnData(object):
+    ''' internal return class for runner execute methods, not part of public API signature '''
+
+    __slots__ = [ 'result', 'comm_ok', 'host' ]
+
+    def __init__(self, conn=None, host=None, result=None, comm_ok=True):
+
+        # which host is this ReturnData about?
+        if conn is not None:
+            delegate_for = getattr(conn, '_delegate_for', None)
+            if delegate_for:
+                self.host = delegate_for
+            else:
+                self.host = conn.host
+        else:
+            self.host = host
+
+        self.result = result
+        self.comm_ok = comm_ok
+
+        if type(self.result) in [ str, unicode ]:
+            self.result = utils.parse_json(self.result)
+
+        if self.host is None:
+            raise Exception("host not set")
+        if type(self.result) != dict:
+            raise Exception("dictionary result expected")
+
+    def communicated_ok(self):
+        return self.comm_ok
+
+    def is_successful(self):
+        return self.comm_ok and ('failed' not in self.result) and (self.result.get('rc',0) == 0)
+
+    def daisychain(self, module_name):
+        ''' request a module call follow this one '''
+        if self.is_successful():
+            self.result['daisychain'] = module_name
+        return self
+