diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
index 8a9240192d3..864d66855f5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ VERBOSITY=0
 
 # list of all deprecation messages to prevent duplicate display
 deprecations = {}
-warnings = {}
+warns = {}
 
 MAX_FILE_SIZE_FOR_DIFF=1*1024*1024
 
@@ -990,9 +990,9 @@ def warning(msg):
     new_msg = "\n[WARNING]: %s" % msg
     wrapped = textwrap.wrap(new_msg, 79)
     new_msg = "\n".join(wrapped) + "\n"
-    if new_msg not in warnings:
+    if new_msg not in warns:
         display(new_msg, color='bright purple', stderr=True)
-        warnings[new_msg] = 1
+        warns[new_msg] = 1
 
 def combine_vars(a, b):