diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
index a984a99ec10..a967553385d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/__init__.py
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ class Inventory(object):
         """
 
         patterns = Inventory.order_patterns(patterns)
-        hosts = set()
+        hosts = []
 
         for p in patterns:
             # avoid resolving a pattern that is a plain host
@@ -261,11 +261,12 @@ class Inventory(object):
             else:
                 that = self._match_one_pattern(p)
                 if p.startswith("!"):
-                    hosts = hosts.difference_update(that)
+                    hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h not in that ]
                 elif p.startswith("&"):
-                    hosts = hosts.intersection_update(that)
+                    hosts = [ h for h in hosts if h in that ]
                 else:
-                    hosts.update(that)
+                    to_append = [ h for h in that if h.name not in [ y.name for y in hosts ] ]
+                    hosts.extend(to_append)
         return hosts
 
     def _match_one_pattern(self, pattern):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/vars/hostvars.py b/lib/ansible/vars/hostvars.py
index aeecc326ee7..9f83342be3e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/vars/hostvars.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/vars/hostvars.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class HostVars(collections.Mapping):
             new_host.set_variable("ansible_python_interpreter", sys.executable)
             new_host.set_variable("ansible_connection", "local")
             new_host.address = '127.0.0.1'
-            hosts.add(new_host)
+            hosts.append(new_host)
 
         for host in hosts:
             self._lookup[host.name] = host