diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker.py
index 30b2d441201..a732a8782b2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker.py
@@ -1396,10 +1396,16 @@ class DockerManager(object):
         return docker.utils.create_host_config(**params)
 
     def create_containers(self, count=1):
+        try:
+            mem_limit = _human_to_bytes(self.module.params.get('memory_limit'))
+        except ValueError as e:
+            self.module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
+
         params = {'image':        self.module.params.get('image'),
                   'command':      self.module.params.get('command'),
                   'ports':        self.exposed_ports,
                   'volumes':      self.volumes,
+                  'mem_limit':    mem_limit,
                   'environment':  self.env,
                   'hostname':     self.module.params.get('hostname'),
                   'domainname':   self.module.params.get('domainname'),