diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
index d22b9781f1f..2e358d1a255 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/lineinfile.py
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ def main():
             line = re.sub(r'(\\[0-9]{1,3})', r'\\\1', line)
         line = module.safe_eval(line)
 
-        line = codecs.escape_decode(line)
+        line = codecs.escape_decode(line)[0]
 
         present(module, dest, params['regexp'], line,
                 ins_aft, ins_bef, create, backup, backrefs)