diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/debug.py b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/debug.py
index d7fd455a808..62d5ca110a6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/debug.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/action_plugins/debug.py
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ class ActionModule(object):
         args = {}
         if complex_args:
             args.update(complex_args)
-        args.update(utils.parse_kv(module_args))
+
+        # attempt to prevent confusing messages when the variable didn't interpolate
+        module_args = module_args.replace("{{ ","{{").replace(" }}","}}")
+
+        kv = utils.parse_kv(module_args)
+        args.update(kv)
         if not 'msg' in args:
             args['msg'] = 'Hello world!'