diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/template.py b/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
index fd3c48af5cc..9180f47326c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/template.py
@@ -532,13 +532,14 @@ def template_from_string(basedir, data, vars, fail_on_undefined=False):
             return lookup(*args, basedir=basedir, **kwargs)
 
         t.globals['lookup'] = my_lookup
-
-        
-
         jvars =_jinja2_vars(basedir, vars, t.globals, fail_on_undefined)
         new_context = t.new_context(jvars, shared=True)
         rf = t.root_render_func(new_context)
-        res = jinja2.utils.concat(rf)
+        try:
+            res = jinja2.utils.concat(rf)
+        except TypeError, te:
+            if 'StrictUndefined' in str(te):
+                raise errors.AnsibleUndefinedVariable("unable to look up a name or access an attribute in template string")
         return res
     except (jinja2.exceptions.UndefinedError, errors.AnsibleUndefinedVariable):
         if fail_on_undefined: