diff --git a/lib/ansible/executor/task_result.py b/lib/ansible/executor/task_result.py
index 0f1967fe5c8..8de375a0267 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/executor/task_result.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/executor/task_result.py
@@ -62,11 +62,13 @@ class TaskResult:
         return self._check_key('unreachable')
 
     def _check_key(self, key):
-        if self._result.get('results', []):
+        '''get a specific key from the result or it's items'''
+
+        if isinstance(self._result, dict) and key in self._result:
+            return self._result.get(key, False)
+        else:
             flag = False
             for res in self._result.get('results', []):
                 if isinstance(res, dict):
                     flag |= res.get(key, False)
             return flag
-        else:
-            return self._result.get(key, False)