diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
index f760245bceb..d53a0a135b2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         # load the role's other files, if they exist
         metadata = self._load_role_yaml('meta')
         if metadata:
-            self._metadata = RoleMetadata.load(metadata, owner=self, loader=self._loader)
+            self._metadata = RoleMetadata.load(metadata, owner=self, variable_manager=self._variable_manager, loader=self._loader)
             self._dependencies = self._load_dependencies()
         else:
             self._metadata = RoleMetadata()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
index 2d46cb7ddde..5941d1554d0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
@@ -160,7 +160,10 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
                 role_search_paths.append(self._role_basedir)
 
             # now iterate through the possible paths and return the first one we find
+            all_vars = self._variable_manager.get_vars(loader=self._loader, play=self._play)
+            templar = Templar(loader=self._loader, variables=all_vars)
             for path in role_search_paths:
+                path = templar.template(path)
                 role_path = unfrackpath(os.path.join(path, role_name))
                 if self._loader.path_exists(role_path):
                     return (role_name, role_path)